28,000 Non-citizens, Replacing Them With Military Veterans Under a New Initiative That Lets Vets Skip Skill Tests

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the program Tuesday, launched last week. Federal and state officials canceled licenses of drivers lacking English proficiency, enforcing rules the Transportation Department began last summer. A fatal Florida crash in August, involving an Indian trucker who made an illegal U-turn killing three, prompted stricter rules; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the driver shouldn't have been licensed.

"We are removing more and more dangerous foreign drivers off our roads every day and restoring the integrity of America's trucking industry, Duffy told PBS. "Our new Freedom Hauliers campaign will help build on these successes and get the word out that there's never been a better time for America's former service members to get behind the wheel of a big rig. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said, "Too many American lives have been lost in completely avoidable accidents because illegal aliens have been granted commercial driver's licenses to drive trucks and 18-wheelers on America's roadways.

He added that DHS is partnering with DOT to eliminate CDL fraud and investigate license schools. The trucking industry welcomed the move. Werner Enterprises CEO Derek Leathers told PBS, "Veterans make up 15% of our workforce and bring the highest levels of leadership, discipline and technical skills that are essential to our success.