Federal grants go to entities that test for commercial driver's licenses | Fact check
The claim: The federal government is offering free commercial driver’s license courses
A June 24 Facebook post (direct link, archive link) with an image of the State Department seal describes a supposed federal program for commercial driver's licenses.
“Starting from June 2024, the United States will provide a six-month free CDL course,” reads the start of the announcement. “If you need a CDL driver’s license, you can apply for it for free with your citizenship, and foreigners can also apply for it for free with their residence permit.”
It received more than 400 shares in three days. Other versions of the claim spread widely on Facebook.
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Our rating: False
A Department of Transportation spokesperson said the claim is false. The agency has grant funding that supports state entities and other places that train and test drivers for a commercial license, but it doesn't go directly to individuals.
States and other entities can train, test CDL applicants
The image in the post includes an “apply now” icon, but neither it nor the caption includes a link to the supposed application.
It also has a U.S. State Department seal on it, but there is no announcement of any such program on the agency’s website.
The State Department wouldn't be involved in one anyway, because state governments issue commercial driver’s licenses, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The agency falls under the Department of Transportation and sets training standards for such licenses.
There is similarly no such program by that agency.
“We believe that post to be a scam and would consider the Facebook content false,” said spokesperson Cicely Waters.
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The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration does not provide grant funding to individuals or enroll them into commercial driver's license training programs, Waters said. Instead, it awards grants to places including state entities, schools and training programs to increase their capacity to help people get licensed and enter the truck and bus driving profession.
Citizenship applications fall under the jurisdiction of Citizenship and Immigration Services, but there is no mention of any such program on its website either.
USA TODAY has debunked an array of false claims surrounding supposed government programs, including assertions the federal government buys solar panels for homeowners, offers $5,000 per month to parents of every U.S.-born child and gives a subsidy of more than $6,200 to Americans age 25 or older.
USA TODAY reached out to the State Department and users who shared the post for comment but did not immediately receive a response. Citizenship and Immigration Services did not provide a comment on the record.
Lead Stories and Check Your Fact also debunked the claim.
Our fact-check sources:
Citizenship and Immigration Services, accessed June 28, News Releases
Cicely Waters, June 27, Email exchange with USA TODAY
State Department, accessed June 27, Press Releases
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: False claim government offering free CDL course | Fact check
