Federal officials told The Center Square they moved against 260 commercial driver’s license (CDL) training schools following a nationwide review tied to English language proficiency failures and alleged uncertified instruction.
What officials say they did
According to The Center Square, “Trump administration officials” said they ordered the emergency removal of 110 CDL schools associated with more than 5,000 drivers who failed English language proficiency tests. They also said 150 additional schools that “claim to be certified” were shut down for using unlicensed instructors or lacking adequate space for behind-the-wheel training.
The Center Square reported the Detroit press conference included Sean Duffy, identified as U.S. Secretary of Transportation, and Markwayne Mullin, identified as U.S. Homeland Security Secretary, alongside other federal officials and U.S. attorneys from several Midwest districts.
How they say they found the targets
Per The Center Square, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reviewed roadside inspection records for commercial drivers cited for not meeting English Language Proficiency requirements, then compared those drivers with entries in the Training Provider Registry to identify providers that repeatedly certified drivers who did not meet federal qualification standards.
Where officials say violations cluster
“A lot of the licenses unlawfully issued come from California, New York, a lot from Illinois,” Duffy said, adding that many violations happen in the Midwest, The Center Square reported. The outlet noted the Illinois Secretary of State’s office did not immediately respond to its request for comment.
23-state sweep and a new task force
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said a synchronized single-day sweep targeted more than 200 training schools across 23 states, according to The Center Square. Mullin linked the effort to broader enforcement, stating, “Regardless if you’re in a sanctuary city or sanctuary state, that doesn’t keep you from having to answer to the law,” and argued that support for sanctuary jurisdictions enables illegal activity that affects other states.
The Center Square also reported that the Department of Justice announced a new Joint Task Force Crossroads of America “to safeguard the nation’s highway system and strengthen the security of our borders,” including U.S. attorneys from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.
Claims about drivers, wages, and crime
Jerome Gorgon, identified by The Center Square as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said many foreign nationals and illegal aliens lack proper training to operate heavy trucks and alleged they “squeeze American truckers out of the marketplace with low wage rates.” Gorgon also alleged that many illegal drivers haul drugs and guns on behalf of international crime syndicates.
Duffy argued that fraudulent operators push wages down and drive insurance costs up. “With all the bad actors, insurance is one of the biggest complaints I hear, because all of the bad drivers on the road creating crashes and accidents are driving rates up,” The Center Square quoted him as saying. Liability insurance premium costs in commercial trucking rose 18.6% from 2021 to 2024, according to the American Transportation Research Institute, The Center Square reported.
Market impact
Duffy said removing illegal truck drivers would not cause a driver shortage and cited multigenerational small carriers going out of business because they “can’t compete with the fraudster,” according to The Center Square.
The Center Square said reporter Greg Bishop contributed to its story.
