In a startling revelation on Thursday night, Sean P. Duffy, the Transportation Secretary under President Donald Trump, unveiled a report accusing California of breaching federal regulations. The state allegedly issued a commercial driver’s license to a foreign asylum seeker implicated in a semi-truck accident that tragically claimed three lives earlier this week.

The report contends that Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration failed to comply with a federal mandate to cease issuing noncompliant licenses and withdraw improperly granted credentials. Duffy asserts that this oversight led to the tragic loss of “three innocent souls.”

Moreover, California reportedly contravened federal laws by upgrading the non-domiciled commercial driver’s license (CDL) of the Indian national involved in the deadly incident, Jashanpreet Singh. This action was taken despite an emergency federal rule and a compliance notice issued on September 26.

WHITE HOUSE CLAIMS CALIFORNIA ISSUED LICENSE TO UNDOCUMENTED TRUCK DRIVER IN FATAL DUI ACCIDENT

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy addressed the situation alongside House GOP leaders during a press conference focused on air traffic controller pay and the government shutdown at the U.S. Capitol on October 23, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Eric Lee/Getty Images)

“My prayers are with the families of the victims of this tragedy. It would have never happened if Gavin Newsom had followed our new rules. California broke the law and now three people are dead and two are hospitalized. These people deserve justice. There will be consequences,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. 

California issued the CDL to Singh on June 27, according to federal records. A Department of Transportation audit on Sept. 26 flagged “significant compliance failures” in the state’s licensing process, yet on Oct. 15, officials reportedly upgraded the driver’s license despite federal restrictions. 

Just six days later, on Oct. 21, the license holder was behind the wheel of a semi-truck involved in a fatal freeway crash that killed three people.