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Eighteen Republican legislators have penned a letter sharply criticizing Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, over allegations of allowing foreign nationals to unlawfully acquire commercial driver licenses (CDLs) in the state. This group of lawmakers is pressing for the immediate revocation of these licenses, which they assert were issued in violation of the law.
The charge, spearheaded by Representative Pete Stauber of Minnesota, accuses Governor Walz of presiding over a period marked by what they describe as “record levels of fraud and mismanagement” of taxpayer resources. The letter claims that the situation under his administration has left the nation in a state of shock and disbelief.
This controversy follows a recent audit by the Department of Transportation (DOT), which revealed that approximately one-third of Minnesota’s non-domiciled CDLs were issued improperly. These licenses are typically available to non-citizens who have authorization to work in the United States.
In response to the audit findings, Minnesota faces a critical deadline of 30 days to rectify the situation by revoking the unlawfully issued licenses. Failure to comply could result in the loss of up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding, according to a statement released by the department on Wednesday.
The letter also points to past controversies surrounding Governor Walz, including an investigation by the U.S. Treasury Department. This inquiry examined whether Walz and the Biden administration were implicated in the misallocation of tax dollars, potentially diverting funds to the Somali terrorist group Al-Shabaab due to alleged mismanagement.
Quill – Letter #L31052 – Letter to Governor Walz – Illegal CDLs – Version #4!12!04-2025 @ 10-22 AM by jmanship
Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent’s launched the probe after the City Journal reported that “federal counterterrorism sources” confirmed that “millions of dollars in stolen funds have been sent back to Somalia” and landed “in the hands” of the terror group.
“Even after all of this, you don’t appear the least bit concerned… You have been asked what specific actions have been taken to end this extraordinary and unprecedented abuse and fraud. To date, you have not sent a single response, and the landscape of fraud continues to widen,” the congresspeople wrote. “This can only be acknowledged as negligence or complete incompetence by you and your administration. Regardless, you have embarrassed the state of Minnesota and, worse yet, allowed waste, fraud, and abuse on the grandest scale.”
The DOT’s audit found that the state gave non-domiciled CDLs to drivers whose lawful presence in the U.S. had expired, whose lawful presence in the U.S. had not been verified, and who were prohibited from obtaining such a license in the first place.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) Administrator Derek D. Barrs, who oversaw the review, said, “Minnesota is openly and blatantly defying our rules, plain and simple.”
“Not only is your administration acting in a way that is incongruent with federal orders and rules and jeopardizing funding for important Minnesota infrastructure projects, but you are knowingly putting Minnesotans and other Americans in harm’s way,” the members continued in their letter. “This is unacceptable and dangerous.”
“Governor Walz, the nation is watching. We demand that you put Minnesotans – and Americans – their tax dollars, their social services, and most importantly, their safety, first. Revoke these illegally issued CDLs immediately and comply with the law.”
In an exclusive statement to Breitbart News, Stauber said, “First, it was the rampant fraud schemes like Feeding Our Future and Housing Stabilization Services, where billions in taxpayer dollars were siphoned off, some even making its way to terrorists. Now, this administration is actively compromising the safety [of] drivers on our roads. This waste, fraud, and abuse must come to an end. Minnesotans and the American people deserve better.”
The letter was also signed by Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN); and Reps. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Brad Finstad (R-MN), David J. Taylor (R-OH), Addison P. McDowell (R-NC), David Rouzer (R-NC), Troy E. Nehls (R-TX), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Beth Van Duyne (R-TX), Mariannette J. Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Mary E. Miller (R-IL), Mike Collins (R-GA), Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Andy Biggs (R-AZ).
Emmer also provided an exclusive statement calling out Walz.
“Another day, another Tim Walz failure. And once again, law-abiding Minnesotans are the ones forced to pay the price. Thankfully, the Trump administration is committed to holding Walz’s feet to the fire for his inexcusable negligence, as are we,” the Majority Whip said.
Olivia Rondeau is a politics reporter for Breitbart News based in Washington, DC. Find her on X/Twitter and Instagram.
