President Donald Trump intensified his criticism of California’s high-speed rail project on Tuesday, vowing that the U.S. government would not provide any federal funds for the $128 billion plan.
His remarks drew swift condemnation from California Governor Gavin Newsom, who labeled the move “reckless” and a threat to jobs and infrastructure progress.
Newsweek has contacted Newsom’s office for comment via email.
Why It Matters
Trump’s vow to block funding marks a renewed federal challenge to the project. His administration has canceled and revoked portions of federal grants in the past. In 2019, almost $1 billion in funding was withdrawn, only to be restored under President Joe Biden. With a formal federal review underway, the future of the rail line is again uncertain.
Voters originally approved the California High-Speed Rail project in 2008 with a $10 billion bond, but spiraling costs have since pushed estimates from $40 billion to as high as $128 billion. Only 119 miles are under construction in the Central Valley.
What To Know
Speaking at the White House during a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Trump dismissed the project as wasteful, despite saying he “liked Gavin.”
“It’s hundreds of billions of dollars for this stupid project that should have never been built. This government is not going to pay,” Trump said. He previously described the project as a “green disaster.”
In response to the president’s comments, a spokesperson for Newsom said: “With 50 major structures built, walking away now as we enter the track-laying phase would be reckless—wasting billions already invested and letting job-killers cede a generational infrastructure advantage to China.”
In February, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy initiated a federal review to determine whether the project complied with funding requirements.
The inspector general also flagged concerns earlier this year, noting that the Merced to Bakersfield segment alone faced a $6.5 billion funding gap and was unlikely to meet its 2033 completion goal.
The California High-Speed Rail Authority maintains that progress continues on the work despite delays. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the agency said, “There is active civil construction along 119 miles in the Central Valley, resulting in over 15,000 construction jobs, and design and pre-construction activities are underway on the extensions to Merced and Bakersfield totaling 171 miles.”
What People Are Saying
California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said in a March report: “Lack of stable, long-term funding has been a persistent challenge. The ‘stop-and-go’ approach has cost us time and money.”
What Happens Next
The Federal Railroad Administration’s review could determine the project’s fate. If federal funding is rescinded, California will face difficult decisions on whether to scale back or seek alternative financing to keep the project alive. For now, construction continues, but political and financial pressures are mounting on both the federal and local level.
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