Illinois faces funding threat over illegal CDL audit

Illinois could lose millions in federal highway funding if state officials do not address problems flagged by the US Department of Transportation in its review of commercial driver licensing for noncitizens.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a written warning to Democratic Governor JB Pritzker and Kevin Duesterhaus, the state director of driver services under Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. The department alleged that one in five commercial licenses issued to noncitizens were issued illegally, and cited examples involving drivers from El Salvador to Ukraine.

“I need our state partners to understand that they work for the American people, not illegal immigrants who broke the law illegally entering our country and continue to break it by operating massive big rigs without the proper qualifications,” Duffy said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital.

“[Joe] Biden and [Pete] Buttigieg forced Americans to share their roads with unqualified and unvetted foreign drivers, but the Trump administration is putting the needs of American families first where they belong.”

Duffy warned that $128 million in federal highway funding could be held up if fixes are not made within 30 days and noncompliance continues. The letter referenced funding tied to Illinois’ share of the National Highway Performance Program and Surface Transportation Block Grants for FY-2027.

“In addition, if the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issues a final determination of substantial noncompliance, the agency may decertify Illinois’ CDL program,” Duffy wrote.

Non domiciled CDLs are commercial licenses issued to noncitizens who are not green card holders. The only exceptions to the non domicile rule are truckers from Mexico and Canada, whose licensing systems the US Department of Transportation has determined meet American standards.

The department raised concerns in two areas, licenses issued with validity dates that exceeded lawful presence in the United States, and licenses issued without Illinois verifying lawful presence. The audit was carried out as part of President Donald Trump’s executive order declaring English the official language of the United States.

The letter called on Illinois to immediately pause issuances of all non domiciled CDLs, identify noncompliant licenses already issued, revoke and reissue compliant licenses, and conduct an internal audit.

Audited examples included two Kyrgyz nationals who presented expired employment authorizations and USCIS applications for new authorizations, documentation the department said Illinois should not have accepted. A Nigerian national and a Moldovan national were described as falling into similar categories. A Singaporean national was said to have received a license after presenting only partial documentation. The audit also referenced several drivers “whose citizenship is unknown”.

Giannoulias criticised what he called a “threat” to state funding in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.

“A strong economy depends on strong logistics,” Giannoulias said. “If trucks don’t move, supply chains fail, prices rise, and families feel it in their pocketbooks. We can see the actions by the Trump administration taking their toll on our truckers and our farmers, both of whom are essential to Illinois’ economy.”

Giannoulias’ office said it believes its CDL issuance policies are “substantially compliant” with US Department of Transportation and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration requirements, and said it will conduct its own review of Duffy’s findings.

Giannoulias also cited concerns raised by the Illinois Agricultural Association tied to a pause in issuing non domiciled CDLs.

“Illinois agriculture depends on timely, practical, and legally sound regulatory decisions. Continued uncertainty places employers, workers, and food production systems at unnecessary risk.”