On Thursday 17, California Governor Gavin Newsom introduced on his official website that he would sue the Trump administration for terminating $4 billion in federal funds for the state’s high-speed rail challenge. The Governor described the choice as a ‘political stunt to punish California’. He added that the selection was motivated by the president’s private hostility towards this U.S. state fairly than actual info.
Nevertheless, in June 2025, the Federal Railroad Administration revealed an in depth report exhibiting how the challenge had repeatedly missed deadlines whereas prices saved rising. The high-speed rail, which was purported to be absolutely operational by 2020 for a complete value of $33 billion, is just not even near being accomplished. The primary phase connecting two minor cities in California might turn into operational in 2030, whereas the estimated prices at the moment are between $89 billion and $128 billion.
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California Governor Says Trump’s Excessive-Pace Rail Cuts Are A ‘Capricious’ Abuse Of Authority
Excessive pace practice in movement
California Governor Gavin Newsom accused President Trump’s administration of an “arbitrary and capricious” abuse of authority. Newsom harshly criticized the selection to cut $4 billion in deferral grants for the California high-speed rail project, to which the state has been working for over fifteen years.
The California Excessive Pace Rail Authority filed a lawsuit within the U.S. District Courtroom in Los Angeles on Thursday. Newsom declared:
Trump’s termination of federal grants for California high-speed rail reeks of politics. It’s one more political stunt to punish California. In actuality, that is only a heartless assault on the Central Valley that can put actual jobs and livelihoods on the road. We’re suing to cease Trump from derailing America’s solely high-speed rail actively below building.
In an announcement revealed a number of hours earlier than the lawsuit was formally filed, the California Governor additionally said that the federal government would put all choices on the desk to struggle an motion described as unlawful. Ian Choudri, the Chief Government Officer of the California Excessive Pace Rail, was additionally harshly essential of the cuts. He described the motion as not solely fallacious, however ‘unlawful,’ stating:
These are legally binding agreements, and the authority has met each obligation, as confirmed by repeated federal opinions, as lately as February 2025.
But, the high-speed rail challenge has modified repeatedly all through the years, with fixed price range changes and missed deadlines. This has led many to contemplate the plan a waste of public cash.
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California Excessive-Pace Rail Mission Retains Lacking Deadlines And Rising Prices
Whereas high-speed trains will be an effective way to encourage individuals to go for a extra sustainable journey technique as a substitute of counting on planes for comparatively brief journeys, the California high-speed rail challenge continues to disappoint. In June 2025, the Federal Railroad Administration revealed an in depth report exhibiting how the challenge had repeatedly missed deadlines and was stricken by ‘price range shortfalls and questionable ridership projections’.
Following the report, Drew Feeley, Performing Head of the Federal Railroad Administration, gave California 30 days to reply. Failure to take action would have led to a $4 billion minimize in federal funds. On this regard, he said:
We do not need to spend money on boondoggles (…) need to see high-speed rail in America and why it could possibly’t be constructed inside, you understand, time frames that work for the people who spend money on these initiatives is senseless to me.
The challenge was initially authorised in 2008. Based on its unique plan, this consisted of a totally electric-powered system connecting San Francisco and Los Angeles in about three hours. The challenge additionally talked about a second part, extending the service to Sacramento and San Diego. The high-speed rail was initially purported to be absolutely operational by 2020 and price $33 billion.
|
Excessive Pace Rail Present Estimates |
|
|---|---|
|
Connecting |
Merced – Bakersfield |
|
Finances |
$89-$128 billion |
|
Opening |
Between 2030 and 2033 |
Based on present estimates, the first high-speed rail phase ought to open to the general public between 2030 and 2033, connecting two minor cities in California: Merced and Bakersfield. Nevertheless, costs have additionally elevated, and the price range is now estimated to be between $89 billion and $128 billion.
Whereas high-speed trains are current in lots of international locations and convey loads of advantages for native economies and connectivity, it stays unclear whether or not the present California high-speed rail challenge will meet expectations or transform a waste of public cash.
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