By David Shepardson

(Reuters) -The U.S. Transportation Department said Tuesday it will withhold federal funding from California, Washington state, and New Mexico unless they adopt English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers.

The administration of President Donald Trump has taken a series of steps to address concerns about foreign truck drivers who do not speak English, and last week Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was immediately pausing the issuance of all worker visas for commercial truck drivers.

Trump in April signed an executive order directing enforcement of a rule requiring commercial drivers in the U.S. to meet English proficiency standards.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the department could withhold about $50 million in federa

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