Giannoulias Condemns Trump Attempts to Rescind Safety Grant Dollars

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias called actions by President Donald Trump “vindictive” and “illegal” after the White House announced it would attempt to cut grant funding designed to make Illinois roads safer.

Giannoulias also noted that the additional restrictions the Trump Administration has placed on CDL issuances to non-domiciled citizens nationwide are causing significant disruptions in the state’s trucking industry, supply chains and agriculture sector.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office has a signed $3.6 million grant agreement with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an agency under the Department of Transportation. Illinois already has implemented a number of safety enhancements to its CDL program, and the initiatives supported by the grant are a continuation of those efforts.

The grant is designed to fund a study of best practices to prevent traffic crashes and fatalities related to commercial trucks and buses, implement a new test program that would reduce fraud on Commercial Driving License (CDLs) exams, and translate CDL exam materials into Spanish.

“The Trump administration is trying to cut funding for improving road safety, preventing crashes and saving lives in Illinois,” Giannoulias said. “Attempts to cut this critical funding for political purposes is not only vindictive and irresponsible, but illegal. The funding cuts come at a time when the actions of FMCSA have already wreaked havoc on state CDL programs throughout the country.”

Since September when an interim final rule was published by the Federal Motor Carrier Transportation Administration (FMCSA), Illinois – along with most other states – has paused issuing and renewing non-domiciled CDLs despite its compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. At least 24 states remain on pause for issuance and renewal of CDLs. The rule would also allow most non-domiciled CDLs to expire, without possibility of renewal, within a two-year period.

“A strong economy depends on strong logistics,” Giannoulias said. “If trucks don’t move, supply chains fail, prices rise and families feel it in their pocketbooks. We can see the actions by the Trump administration taking their toll on our truckers and our farmers, both of whom are essential to Illinois’ economy.”

In January, the Illinois Agricultural Association, representing multiple agricultural-based organizations in the state, wrote to Giannoulias expressing “serious concern” regarding the pause in issuing CDLs and stating the federal agency’s “decision is having immediate and growing negative impacts on agricultural operations across the state and threatens to disrupt critical spring and early-season activities.”

“Illinois agriculture depends on timely, practical, and legally sound regulatory decisions. Continued uncertainty places employers, workers, and food production systems at unnecessary risk,” added the letter, signed by eight associations, including the Illinois Farm Bureau. “We believe a prompt resolution is both achievable and essential.”

The growth of non-domiciled CDLs has coincided with the explosive increase of e-commerce and the massive shift to online retail, which has made fast and reliable delivery essential to meet consumer demand.

“Commercial driver’s licenses are the backbone of Illinois’ trucking industry and the supply chain that keeps our state moving, including the vital transportation network that supports our agriculture community,” said Matt Hart, Executive Director of the Illinois Trucking Association. “Ensuring that qualified, capable drivers have a clear and accessible path to earning a CDL in Illinois is essential to maintaining a safe, strong, and reliable workforce that delivers for farmers, businesses, and families across our state. The pause on the non-domicile CDL creates uncertainty for the industry that is already stretched thin and puts many in limbo. For many drivers, especially owner-operators, their CDL isn't just a credential – it's their livelihood."

In November, a federal appeals court placed a temporary administrative stay on the rule, but on February 13, 2026 FMSCA published a final rule that will again significantly limit the individuals eligible for a non-domiciled CDL. A resolution is not expected soon as litigation is likely to continue.

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