TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport has joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in suing the Trump administration over its demand for access to a national database containing the personal information of approximately 17 million commercial driver’s license holders.
The lawsuits challenge actions taken by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which have sought five years of records maintained through the Commercial Driver’s License Information System (CDLIS).
According to the Attorney General’s Office, the federal government threatened to terminate more than $10 million in grants and contracts to the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) unless the nonprofit organization turned over the data.
New Jersey and the coalition argue the records belong to the states and contain sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, dates of birth and other identifying information.
The lawsuits allege the federal agencies violated federal privacy laws and the Administrative Procedure Act by attempting to obtain the information without consulting the states or establishing safeguards governing how the information would be stored, shared or used.
“New Jersey has one of the strongest data privacy laws in the country, and we will not allow the Trump Administration to illegally misuse the private information of our residents,” Davenport said. “We will not allow New Jerseyans’ safety or the employment of our CDL drivers to be jeopardized by yet another unlawful request for private data.”
Federal officials have defended the request, saying the records are needed as part of a broader crackdown on commercial driver’s license fraud and to ensure only qualified drivers are operating commercial vehicles on U.S. highways.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security officials have announced a joint enforcement initiative targeting commercial driving schools suspected of falsifying training records, improperly certifying students, and issuing credentials to individuals who may not meet federal licensing requirements.
The Trump administration has also said investigators are examining whether some commercial driver’s licenses were improperly issued to non-domiciled or otherwise ineligible applicants, including some involving immigration-related violations.
According to USDOT and DHS, ongoing enforcement efforts have resulted in more than 24,000 commercial drivers being removed from service for failing English-language proficiency requirements, the cancellation of more than 28,000 improperly issued foreign commercial licenses, and the removal of approximately 9,500 non-compliant driver training schools from the federal registry.
Federal officials contend access to the CDLIS database is necessary to verify commercial driver credentials, identify fraudulent licenses, investigate suspected criminal activity, and improve highway safety.
The Commercial Driver’s License Information System was established by Congress in 1986 to allow states to share licensing information and verify whether commercial drivers already hold licenses in another jurisdiction. While the database is operated by AAMVA under contract with the federal government, participating states own the licensing information submitted to the system.
The coalition argues the administration’s demand represents an unprecedented expansion of federal access to state-owned records and raises concerns the information could be used beyond commercial licensing enforcement, including immigration investigations.
The lawsuits seek emergency court orders preventing AAMVA from turning over the requested records while the legal challenge proceeds.
- New Jersey joined 21 states and Pennsylvania in suing the Trump administration.
- The dispute centers on access to approximately 17 million commercial driver records.
- State officials argue the request violates privacy laws and exceeds federal authority.
- The Trump administration says the data is needed to investigate CDL fraud and improve highway safety.
- The administration’s broader enforcement effort targets fraudulent CDL schools and improperly issued commercial licenses.
The legal battle highlights the ongoing tension between state privacy protections and federal immigration and transportation enforcement. The outcome could determine how much access federal agencies have to state-held driver information and shape future cooperation between states and Washington on commercial licensing and immigration-related investigations.
FAQ
Why is New Jersey suing the Trump administration?
The state argues the federal government unlawfully demanded access to millions of commercial driver’s license records containing sensitive personal information without sufficient legal authority or privacy protections.
What information is being requested?
The records include names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers and other information maintained in the Commercial Driver’s License Information System.
Why does the Trump administration want the records?
Federal officials say the information is needed to investigate commercial driver’s license fraud, verify driver eligibility, identify improperly issued licenses, support immigration enforcement where legally authorized, and improve highway safety.
What is CDLIS?
The Commercial Driver’s License Information System is a national database that allows states to verify commercial driver’s licenses and prevent individuals from holding multiple CDLs.
Has the information already been released?
No. The states are seeking emergency court orders to block the transfer while the lawsuits are litigated.
Sources: New Jersey Attorney General’s Office; U.S. Department of Transportation; Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration; Department of Homeland Security; American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators
