Trump Administration Shuts Down 300 Trucking Schools Amid State Lawsuits

The Trump administration has launched an immigration crackdown targeting commercial truck drivers, triggering a legal battle with more than 20 Democratic-led states. Sean Duffy, the Transportation Secretary, announced the emergency shutdown of nearly 300 driving schools, citing inadequate facilities and failures in English-language proficiency training.

To identify immigrants with expired visas or improper certifications, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation sought access to the Commercial Driver’s License Information System database. This effort included threatening to pull funding from the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators. However, a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to block the data sharing after states filed lawsuits alleging the demand violates privacy laws.

Federal officials justify the enforcement actions by citing public safety and fatal crashes involving noncitizens. Conversely, freight companies like J. B. Hunt report that the crackdown is worsening a national driver shortage, which has led to increased recruitment costs and higher shipping rates.