US EditionDuffy threatens to pull California’s high speed rail funding
- On June 4, 2025, the head of the U.S. Department of Transportation announced intentions to cut nearly $4 billion in federal support for California's high-speed rail initiative, citing the project's failure to meet compliance standards.
- This action follows a new 310-page Federal Railroad Administration report detailing missed deadlines, budget shortfalls, and overestimated ridership projections that put the project in default.
- Originally planned as an 800-mile system linking Los Angeles and San Francisco, the project has shrunk significantly to a 119-mile segment in the Central Valley that faces escalating costs and a $7 billion funding gap.
- Secretary Duffy declared that the CHSRA lacks a realistic plan to finish the project within the scheduled timeframe and budget, cautioning that federal funds might be redirected to other infrastructure initiatives that better align with national priorities.
- The California High-Speed Rail Authority has a limited timeframe to address the federal report's concerns, but failure to do so could result in the loss of crucial funding, further compounding existing financial and managerial issues that jeopardize the project's future.
129 Articles
129 Articles
Daily Breeze
‘No viable path’ to completion: Trump administration plans to end funding to California high-speed rail project
State officials defended the project and said they remain committed to construction, though it’s not clear what funding would replace federal support if it’s withdrawn.
Trump administration signals it will cut off funds for California high-speed rail line that has become 'a 119-mile track to nowhere'
Tony Strickland, a Republican from Huntington Beach who is vice chair of the Transportation Committee, said that “commonsense has prevailed".
Transportation Secretary Duffy Warns: Admin To Pull The Plug On California High-Speed Rail Boondoggle
The Trump administration is threatening to revoke $4 billion in federal funds from California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project, citing broken promises and failure to meet grant conditions. Key Facts: The original rail project was intended to span 800 miles from San Francisco to Los Angeles but was scaled down to 170 miles between Merced and Bakersfield. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said California’s project violated terms of its fe…
The Trump administration is threatening the financing of the California high-speed train.
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