California Sues Trump Administration Over High-Speed Rail Funding Cuts
California has taken legal action against the Trump administration in response to a decision that eliminates $4 billion in federal funding for the state’s delayed high-speed rail project.
This “Bullet Train” initiative has faced significant setbacks, now predicted to finish by 2040, a far cry from its original 2020 timeline and at a price four times higher than initially estimated. The project has not yet established a connection between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Funding was curtailed after Transport Secretary Sean Duffy ordered an audit that deemed the project unfeasible. In light of this, Governor Gavin Newsom is seeking to protect the allocated funds, stating that the decision reflects a politically motivated attack against California.
In his comments, Newsom said that ending federal support for this project is not just about politics; it’s a harsh blow to the Central Valley, which depends on this project for jobs and growth. He urged Trump to reconsider this decision, as it harms a critical infrastructure effort.
The Central Valley is the primary area where high-speed rail is planned, yet Newsom had previously scrapped parts of the project in urban regions due to rising costs and ongoing delays after he took office in 2019.
The state has filed its lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, led by Attorney General Rob Bonta. This comes shortly after the Federal Railroad Administration announced the funding cut. The suit aims to challenge the legality of this action, which it describes as arbitrary, whimsical, and potentially harmful to the economy.
It specifically lists Secretary Duffy and acting FRA administrator Drew Feely as defendants, citing Trump’s longstanding criticism and his earlier funding cuts during his presidency. The lawsuit disputes Trump’s stated costs, arguing that the project’s budget has escalated to nearly $100 billion from an original proposal of $33 billion, contrary to the claim that it would require “thousands of billions.”
Since Newsom took office, California has initiated around 20 lawsuits against the Trump administration, seeking $40 billion in aid to address wildfire damage earlier this year.
