The safety of our roads should never be up for debate. When we send our children to school, when we drive to work, or when we visit family on the weekend, we trust that others sharing the road are qualified to be there. That trust was broken in August when a tragic crash in Florida took the lives of three innocent people. The driver of the semi-truck that caused this crash was in the country illegally and could not speak or understand English. He should never have been behind the wheel of a big rig, yet somehow, he received a commercial driver’s license in both California and Washington.
This is more than just a story about one accident. It is a warning about what happens when states choose political correctness and open-border policies over common sense and public safety. The federal government has clear rules to protect all drivers, including the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirement for truckers. This rule is not about punishing anyone. It exists to make sure that truck drivers can read road signs, understand directions, and follow safety procedures. In short, it’s about making sure they can do their jobs safely — for their sake and for the sake of every other person on the road.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently put California, Washington, and New Mexico on notice. These states have failed to enforce the ELP rule, even after it became effective in June. As a result, they now face the loss of millions of dollars in federal transportation funding. California could lose $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million. These are not small figures. These are taxpayer dollars meant to improve roads, maintain bridges, and support safety programs. And yet, these states are risking it all by refusing to follow a basic federal safety law.
Let’s ask the simple question: why? Why would any state allow non-English-speaking individuals — especially those in the country illegally — to operate massive commercial vehicles? The answer, sadly, is rooted in a dangerous ideology that puts left-wing politics ahead of law and order. Leaders in these states have prioritized being “welcoming” over being responsible. They have chosen to ignore federal standards in the name of so-called inclusion, even if it puts lives at risk.
This is not just a failure of policy — it’s a moral failure. Our nation is built on the rule of law and the belief that safety and order come first. That belief is being tested when states undermine federal rules and turn a blind eye to the dangers of poorly trained, non-English-speaking drivers on our highways.
Secretary Duffy made it clear: the federal government does not want to take money away from states, but it will if it must. If these states continue to ignore the ELP rule, more serious consequences will follow. The message is simple — enforce the law or pay the price.
At a time when our country is working hard to restore lawfulness and protect its citizens, we must not allow rogue states to sabotage those efforts. President Trump has returned strength and order to our nation’s leadership, but his administration cannot do it alone. States must do their part to uphold the standards that keep Americans safe.
We owe it to the families who lost loved ones in that tragic crash. We owe it to every truck driver who plays by the rules. And we owe it to every mother, father, and child who gets in a car and deserves to arrive safely.
It’s time for California, Washington, and New Mexico to get back in line with the law. Our highways are not the place for political games. They are the lifelines of our country — and they deserve to be treated with the seriousness and respect that our citizens deserve.
