A US federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from obtaining a database holding sensitive personal information on more than 17 million commercial drivers, including their Social Security numbers and driving licence numbers. The temporary restraining order, secured on 22 August, also bars the administration from cutting more than $10 million in federal funding to the organisation that operates the database if it refuses to hand over the records.

What the Court Order Covers

The order prevents the US Department of Transportation from acquiring the records and effectively pauses a Department of Homeland Security subpoena while litigation proceeds, according to Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones. Jones, leading a coalition of state attorneys general, had challenged demands issued by the Transportation Department, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the Department of Homeland Security.

'The federal court's decision to grant a Temporary Restraining Order is an important win for protecting the privacy of millions of commercial drivers,' Jones said. 'The ruling ensures Virginians' data remains secure and under state control while the legal process continues.'

The Database at the Centre of the Dispute

The contested records are held within the Commercial Driver's License Information System (CDLIS), a system Congress established in 1986 to allow states to share information about commercial driving licence applicants. Since 1988, the Transportation Department has contracted with the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators — a private non-profit — to operate the system on behalf of states.

The database contains a driver's name, date of birth, Social Security number, driving licence number, and the state that supplied the information. States use the system to verify an applicant's identity, medical fitness, immigration status, and licensing history before approving a commercial driving licence.

Legal Challenge and Allegations

Jones and the coalition filed two related lawsuits last week. One names the Transportation Department, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and the association operating the database. The second challenges Homeland Security's separate efforts to obtain the records via subpoena.

The lawsuits allege that the federal agencies are violating multiple privacy laws by attempting to build a separate federal database using state-owned records obtained from the association. The coalition contends the proposed database would lack safeguards governing the use or sharing of Social Security numbers, and that the effort was undertaken without public notice — a significant procedural concern.

States Backing the Coalition

Attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin joined the legal action, along with the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. Minnesota's attorney general joined the case specifically involving Homeland Security. Notably, the federal government's position was not included in materials released by Jones' office.

What Happens Next

The coalition said it will now seek a preliminary injunction to prevent any transfer of the information for the full duration of the litigation. The temporary restraining order offers short-term protection, but a preliminary injunction would provide a more durable legal shield while the courts examine the underlying privacy and governance questions. The case is being closely watched as a test of how far federal agencies can reach into state-controlled data systems.