President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that his administration will not provide federal funding for California’s high-speed rail project. Speaking in the Oval Office alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, President Trump criticized the project, saying, “That train is the worst cost overrun I’ve ever seen. It’s, like, totally out of control.” He emphasized, “This government is not going to pay.”
The California High-Speed Rail project, intended to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco, has faced numerous challenges since its inception. Voters approved funding for the project in 2008, but it has been plagued by legal battles, political opposition, and significant cost overruns. Initially estimated to cost $33 billion, the project’s budget has ballooned to approximately $100 billion more than the original estimate.
In 2019, California Governor Gavin Newsom scaled back the project’s scope, focusing on completing the Central Valley portion between Bakersfield and Merced first. According to the California High-Speed Rail Authority, about $13 billion has been spent so far, with 119 miles of the planned 171 miles under active construction.
The project aims to have the Merced to Bakersfield line operational between 2030 and 2033. However, the entire route from Los Angeles to San Francisco could cost an additional $100 billion to complete. The Trump administration had previously considered rescinding $4 billion in federal funds allocated to the project, further complicating its future.
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