Administration Announces Widespread School Closures
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the closure of more than 200 truck-driving schools as part of a broader crackdown on alleged fraud in the industry. Speaking at a news conference in Detroit on Monday, Duffy said the administration was "going to bring safety back to American roadways."
Two of the three reports on the announcement cite a figure of 270 schools shut down, while a third states the number as "more than 200." The closures are part of an emergency measure by the Transportation Department, which issued the closure of 110 commercial driver's license (CDL) schools associated with more than 5,000 drivers who failed English proficiency tests. Separately, a nationwide audit of third-party CDL testers and state oversight led to the shutdown of an additional 160 schools.
The schools were accused of lacking qualified instructors, failing to maintain appropriate vehicles and facilities, and allowing individuals to pass tests even if they did not speak English. Duffy emphasized that English proficiency is a legal requirement for commercial drivers, stating, "You have to speak English to operate a commercial vehicle. I didn't create that rule; President Trump didn't create the rule; that rule has been in place for decades."
Officials Blame Previous Administration's Policies
Duffy and Mullin attributed the situation to the Biden administration's border policies and what they described as lax oversight of trucking schools. According to Duffy, the previous administration allowed truck driving schools to self-certify compliance with federal standards, but many "don't actually meet that standard." He also said the administration permitted "millions of illegals into the country," making it difficult to verify criminal or driving records.
Mullin said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement had identified more than 100 individuals who had been issued CDLs with the name field listed as "No name given." He argued that the Biden administration's failure "has led to deaths and injuries." Duffy cited examples of immigrants in the country illegally driving semitrucks and injuring or killing people, and pointed to the case of Harjinder Singh, a 28-year-old who received a commercial license in California under a controversial law despite entering the United States illegally in 2018. Singh's subsequent crash in Florida killed three people, according to the reports.
Dalilah's Law and Legislative Pushback
The announcement was joined by Marcus Coleman and his daughter Dalilah, who was critically injured in a 2024 crash caused by an immigrant in the country illegally. The White House is promoting "Dalilah's Law," named after Dalilah Coleman, which would allow the federal government to withhold highway funding from states that do not comply with new CDL requirements.
However, the proposed legislation has faced opposition from Democrats. They argue that as many as 200,000 truckers could lose their jobs, including those in the country on temporary visas. Rep. Rick Larsen, , raised concerns during a March hearing, saying the law "blocks off job opportunities for people who are in this country legally and otherwise could meet qualifications to drive commercially." He added, "It's not a policy I can justify to the ref"—his words as reported.
Ongoing Enforcement and Task Force
The announcement comes as Vice President JD Vance leads an anti-fraud task force. Duffy said the administration was cracking down on fraud and would continue to target school operators who "pass off CDLs to people who haven't earned them," describing the vehicles these drivers operate as "forty-ton weapons" that endanger the public. The administration framed the closures as a necessary step to ensure that only qualified, English-speaking drivers operate commercial vehicles on American roadways.