Why is the federal government withholding transportation funds from New York?
The federal government claims New York is not in compliance with federal regulations regarding the issuance of commercial driver's licenses to non-citizens.
Politics / US Government
New York State is once again embroiled in a legal battle with the Trump administration, this time over $73 million in federal highway funding. The dispute centers on the state's issuance of commercial driver's licenses (CDLs) to non-citizen...
The conflict began when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) audited New York's CDL program and found that over half of the reviewed licenses were issued in violation of federal law. Specifically, the FMCSA alleges that New York issued eight-year licenses to non-citizen drivers without regard to the expiration of their legal status. In response, the federal Department of Transportation announced it would withhold $73 million, representing 4% of the state's National Highway Performance Program. New York officials, led by Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Kathy Hochul, argue that the state has done nothing wrong and that revoking the licenses would disrupt key industries and potentially lead to bus driver shortages. They also point to previous court victories against the Trump administration in similar transportation-related disputes, including cases involving New York City’s congestion pricing rules and funding for the Second Avenue subway and Gateway Hudson Tunnel project. The state plans to expedite the case to minimize any potential disruptions to transportation projects.
The federal government claims New York is not in compliance with federal regulations regarding the issuance of commercial driver's licenses to non-citizens.
The current dispute involves $73 million in highway funding, with potential future cuts of $147 million annually if New York doesn't comply.
New York argues that it has complied with all applicable regulations and that the licenses were issued in accordance with both state and federal law.
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