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Twenty-Three Republican-Led States Back Federal CDL Restrictions in Court Filing

Twenty-three states with Republican governors filed a legal brief supporting federal restrictions on commercial driver's licenses for foreign-domiciled residents, marking a significant show of support for rules implemented in February.

The states—including Florida, Texas, Georgia, and others—intervened in the Lujan v. FMCSA case ahead of September 15 oral arguments before the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. According to their brief, federal safety protections help states avoid bearing additional costs from accidents involving unqualified drivers.

The FMCSA rule largely prohibits states from issuing CDLs to non-domiciled residents, with exceptions for visa holders in H-2A, H-2B, and E-2 categories who undergo federal screening.

The case draws opposition from Democratic-led states, labor unions including the AFL-CIO and American Federation of Teachers, and driver Jorge Rivera Lujan. The Court of Appeals previously denied a request for a stay of the rule's implementation.