[Report by Li Sa] According to reports from the Los Angeles Times and Agence France-Presse, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on the 17th that the California High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over the termination of billions in federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project. The day before (the 16th), Trump declared that the federal government would halt its funding for the California high-speed rail construction project, stating it would no longer invest a penny in this “fraud” or “mess.”
“Another political farce aimed at punishing California,” Newsom stated in a declaration. Trump’s decision to terminate the funding was filled with political undertones, and canceling this money would “jeopardize (the public’s) real employment and livelihoods.”
Newsom also mentioned, “Our lawsuit is to prevent Trump from sabotaging America’s only active high-speed rail project.” The California High Speed Rail Authority refers to the California high-speed rail as “America’s first true high-speed rail.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation previously issued a report criticizing the California high-speed rail project for delays in schedule and cost overruns. The California High Speed Rail Authority strongly opposes the conclusions of the Department of Transportation, arguing that these conclusions are misleading and fail to reflect the significant progress made in building the high-speed rail in California.
Since its approval in 2008, the California high-speed rail project has faced multiple challenges due to delays in schedule and shortages of funds. In February of this year, some Republican lawmakers sent letters to the federal government stating that the project had only completed about 35 kilometers of earthworks and 11 interchange bridge structures.