Now Colorado stands to lose $24 million in federal funding. This very real threat stems from accusations that the state has issued illegal or improper commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). This summer, national media attention focused on Duffy after the U.S. Department of Transportation official initiated an audit of the state’s licensing practices. This review came after the tragic collapse of the FIU Bridge in Florida. In August, a truck driver, who was reportedly unauthorized to be in the U.S., made an illegal U-turn, resulting in a crash that claimed three lives.
Duffy’s heightened scrutiny of Colorado stems from concerns regarding the state’s adherence to federal CDL regulations. He detailed Colorado’s weak and ineffective response to these violations. Every day that goes by, thousands of unqualified, unvetted foreign truckers are endangering you and your family,” Duffy claimed. He did so with a clarion call to emphasize the urgency of this dire, crucial moment.
For its part, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles has acted quickly to address the inquiry from the feds. They have discontinued issuance and renewal of term-limited non-domiciled CDLs and CLPs indefinitely. In particular, this decision reflects a growing recognition that states should be held accountable for failing to meet federal standards. It hasn’t quelled the alarm that Duffy sounded.
Besides Colorado, similar issues have been raised about licensing practices in California, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. Duffy’s review uncovers a troubling unintended consequence for these states. If they fail to address deficiencies in their CDL issuance processes, they may be subject to significant penalties. He has already sent letters to Republican-run states like Texas and South Dakota, warning them about potential federal funding cuts if they fail to ensure qualified drivers.
Duffy’s position took him out of step with Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a popular two-term Democrat. In response, Polis blamed Duffy for a bad line of communication, characterizing the incident as a “crossed-wires” case. He noted that had Duffy reached out to him personally, he would have found that Colorado is working diligently to tackle the very things that concern him.
In recent months, the battle lines drawn between Polis and the Trump administration have been more evident. This strain has been particularly exacerbated by current federal plans to destroy one of the state’s only climate research labs. As Polis continues to steer Colorado through these challenges, he now has the added challenge of making sure that Colorado remains in compliance with federal CDL regulations.
