America will be dealing with a lot of issues for a while, thanks to Joe Biden’s open border policy. One of those issues is looking at the 18-wheeler next to you as you get on the interstate and hoping the driver speaks English and can read road signs. It’s an issue that has concerned all Americans since last August, when three people were killed at the hands of a driver who never should have been in the country. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold highway funding for states that did not crack down on these drivers, but some states still don’t get it.
If you are the type of person who believes Kathy Hochul followed the rules when issuing licenses to foreign truck drivers, then you are the problem.
— JNovy (@JNovy_) April 17, 2026
On Thursday, in a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s New York Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it would be pulling $74 million in highway grants from the state for its refusal to comply with removing immigrant truck drivers with expired work authorizations off the road. The Department of Transportation also stated that continued non-compliance would result in the loss of another $147 million in highway grants.
READ MORE: Duffy Drops the Hammer on Hochul, Says NY Has 30 Days to Fix CDL Licenses for Illegals or Lose $73M
In a statement, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy reiterated his commitment to getting any unqualified drivers off of America’s interstates, saying:
“I promised the American people I would hold any state leader accountable for failing to keep them safe from unvetted, unqualified foreign drivers. I’m delivering on that promise today by refusing to fund Governor Hochul’s dangerous, anti-American policies. My message to New York’s far left leadership is clear: families must be prioritized on American roads.”
An audit of New York’s DMV was done last year by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), which revealed some interesting practices. Of the roughly 32,000 New York commercial driver’s licenses (CDL) held by non-residents, half of them had expiration dates that went years after their work authorization had expired. DMV staff admitted to federal officials that truckers were normally issued an eight-year permit, even if their work authorization was for a much shorter period.
🚨 TRUMP ADMIN DROPS THE HAMMER ON NEW YORK
The Trump administration just informed New York they’re PULLING $73 MILLION in federal funds.
Why? Because New York failed to revoke trucking licenses from illegals, and 53% of the licenses they issued violated federal law.…
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) April 16, 2026
🚨 TRUMP ADMIN DROPS THE HAMMER ON NEW YORK
The Trump administration just informed New York they’re PULLING $73 MILLION in federal funds.
Why? Because New York failed to revoke trucking licenses from illegals, and 53% of the licenses they issued violated federal law.
Sanctuary insanity has consequences.
New York, however, claims it is not legally obligated to comply with federal demands to retroactively review previously issued licenses after the Trump administration ordered tighter restrictions in February. New York has been playing fast and loose with CDL licenses to immigrant truck drivers for a while. Kathy Hochul’s greatest immigrant trucker hit happened in Oklahoma during a sting operation along Interstate 40 in September of 2025, when Anmol Anmol, an illegal immigrant driver from India, was stopped, and the name on his license was “No Name Given Anmol.”
ALSO READ: Another Illegal Immigrant Trucker Busted, but the Most Infuriating Part Is His Name
If blue state governors like Kathy Hochul still think the Trump administration is just paying lip service to the idea of reining in their handing out of CDLs like candy to illegal immigrants, all she had to do was call her buddy, California Gov. Gavin Newsom. As early as October of 2025, the Trump administration threatened to withhold $40 million in federal funds over the state’s refusal to enforce English language requirements. Duffy’s announcement in February also included nationwide enforcement of English language proficiency.
If Kathy Hochul would just follow the rules, she could keep her millions of dollars in federal highway funds and wouldn’t have to tax wealthy New Yorkers. But that wouldn’t be any fun.
The Trump admin has just informed New York they’re PULLING $73 MILLION from New York for failing to REVOKE trucking licenses from illegals👏
53% of licenses issued VIOLATED federal law pic.twitter.com/CzBb7Fe290
— James A Stamulis (@stamulis_james) April 17, 2026
Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump, illegal immigration into our great country has virtually stopped. Despite the radical left’s lies, new legislation wasn’t needed to secure our border, just a new president.
Help us continue to report the truth about the president’s border policies and mass deportations. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your membership.
