Trump Closes 120 Driving Schools for Approving Drivers Who Don’t Speak English

The Donald Trump Administration executed on August 31, 2026 an emergency executive closure of 110 commercial driver training schools for approving drivers who failed to demonstrate English proficiency. For this reason, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, known as FMCSA, removed these centers from its official federal registry.

Additionally, they linked them to 5,000 language-related violations in roadside inspections. Concurrently, federal authorities are investigating more than 160 additional institutions for facility irregularities. They are also investigating them for lack of instructor certification.

Why Did the Government Order the Closure of Commercial Driving Schools?

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported that the closed schools accumulated 5,000 violations related to drivers who failed to demonstrate English proficiency during roadside inspections. Additionally, federal authorities determined the immediate removal of these institutions from the FMCSA Training Provider Registry. Therefore, this completely suspends their theoretical and practical classes.

«Today we are announcing the emergency executive closure of 110 driving schools that accumulated 5,000 of the violations related to English proficiency,» Duffy stated, according to The New York Times. The official emphasized that regulations require English proficiency to operate a commercial truck. It is important to note that these academies allowed candidates to graduate without meeting the regulatory standard.

Duffy explained that the measure seeks to halt alleged irregularities in the issuance of commercial driver licenses, known as CDLs. Furthermore, the Department of Justice and the DHS initiated audits and investigations to verify whether there was institutional fraud in driver certification.

What Does the Legal Framework Establish Regarding English Requirements for Truck Drivers?

The current federal legal framework is based on Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, specifically regulation 49 CFR 391.11(b)(2). This provision requires that every commercial driver be able to read and speak English sufficiently. Additionally, they must converse with the public, understand traffic signs, and respond to questioning from authorities.

In 2025 and 2026, the federal administration tightened operational guidelines so that officers immediately place «out of service» any driver who fails to meet this requirement during an inspection stop. Federal regulations prohibit sanctioned carriers from resuming travel until correcting the violation or