Trump Reviews California Train Project Costing Extra Billions

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The Trump administration has announced a comprehensive audit of California’s high-speed rail project, scrutinizing a venture that has fallen significantly behind schedule and is projected to exceed its budget by $100 billion, while failing to achieve its primary goal of connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles.

This development follows President Trump’s previous actions regarding the project, including his earlier decision to withhold $1 billion in funding and his warning about potentially reclaiming over $4 billion in federal contributions.

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy’s announcement of the compliance review of the $4 billion in federal funds allocated to California’s high-speed rail project — the ambitious, long-delayed plan to send bullet trains from Los Angeles to downtown San Francisco.

California's high-speed rail project is one of the worst managed projects in the U.S. and is a great example of government incompetence and waste.

It's billions of dollars over budget, had a completion date of 2020, and has transported 0 passengers.

Trump just blasted the… pic.twitter.com/apLFjgpKJw

— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 4, 2025

The review would “help determine” whether the money should “remain committed” to the railway’s first segment between Merced and Bakersfield in the Central Valley, spokespeople for the U.S. Department of Transportation said in a news release, casting the future of the project in jeopardy.

“If California wants to continue to invest, that’s fine, but we in the Trump administration are going to take a look at whether this project is worthy of continual investment,” Duffy said Thursday morning, addressing reporters at Union Station in Los Angeles. Protesters gathered in the background to boo and loudly chant, “Build the rail!”

Despite the vocal protests, public support for the high-speed rail project remains limited in California, with significant opposition outside specific areas of the Central Valley. In contrast, a separate high-speed rail initiative connecting Los Angeles to Las Vegas has garnered more favorable public opinion, largely due to its private funding origins and its focus on entertainment rather than daily transportation needs.

California high speed rail project is a gigantic scam. It was originally approved in 2008 for 500 mile line connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco for $33 billion dollars. After 16 years only 60 miles is track ready.

A thread on corrupt Democrats👇pic.twitter.com/GABowIhT5u

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