Newsom sues Trump Administration over the termination of grants in High-Speed Rail project

(FOX40.COM) — Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that the High-Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump Administration over the termination of $4 billion in federal grants to the project, which was announced on Wednesday.
• Video above: President Trump announced no federal funding for CA High-Speed Rail project

Newsom said that the lawsuit alleges that termination of the agreement is “petty, political retribution, and motivated by President Trump’s personal animus toward California and the high-speed rail project, not by facts on the ground.”

Newsom’s office stated that the project has entered the track-laying phase and is actively being built across 171 miles. It has constructed more than 50 major railway structures, including bridges, overpasses, and viaducts, and has completed over 60 miles of guideways.

“Trump’s termination of federal grants for California high-speed rail reeks of politics. It’s yet another political stunt to punish California,” said Newsom in a press release. “In reality, this is just a heartless attack on the Central Valley that will put real jobs and livelihoods on the line. We’re suing to stop Trump from derailing America’s only high-speed rail actively under construction.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced on Wednesday that the Federal Railroad Administration has terminated almost $4 billion in unspent federal funding for the California High Speed Rail Authority.

Duffy stated in a press release that after 16 years and a little over $15 billion spent, not one high-speed track has been laid by the CHRSA, and the project is projected to cost $135 billion, which could buy every San Francisco and LA resident nearly 200 round-trip tickets between cities.

“This is California’s fault. Governor Newsom and the complicit Democrats have enabled this waste for years. Federal dollars are not a blank check – they come with a promise to deliver results. After over a decade of failures, CHSRA’s mismanagement and incompetence has proven it cannot build its train to nowhere on time or on budget,” said Duffy. “It’s time for this boondoggle to die. President Trump and I will always fight to ensure your tax dollars only go to projects that accomplish great, big, beautiful things.” 

High-speed rail is a key part of Newsom’s build more, faster agenda, delivering infrastructure upgrades and creating jobs throughout the state, the Newsom office said.