Transportation Secretary Threatens to Pull Federal Grants for California’s High-Speed Rail Project
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a warning on Wednesday to California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, threatening to revoke federal grants after the authority spent nearly $7 billion in taxpayer funds without laying a single track in over 15 years.
In a comprehensive 300-page report, Duffy highlighted the project’s missed deadlines, budget overruns, and lack of progress. The High-Speed Rail Authority has been given 37 days to respond or risk losing out on approximately $4 billion in grants.
“This report reveals a stark reality: CHSRA has no viable plan to complete this project within the set timeline or budget,” stated Duffy.
“CHSRA is now on notice – Failure to meet their obligations could result in the redirection of funds to projects aligned with President Trump’s vision of revitalizing infrastructure,” Duffy added.
“Our nation deserves high-speed rail systems that we can be proud of, not wasteful projects leading to nowhere.”
Requests for comments from California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and the California High-Speed Rail Authority remain unanswered.
