California sues to stop Trump’s politically motivated attack on high-speed rail
What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced the High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over its illegal termination of federal grants funding the project.
SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over its politically-motivated termination of $4 billion in federal grants to the project.
The lawsuit alleges that termination of the agreements is petty, political retribution, motivated by President Trump’s personal animus toward California and the high-speed rail project, not by facts on the ground.
Trump’s termination of federal grants for California high-speed rail reeks of politics. It’s yet another political stunt to punish California.
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.
Governor Gavin Newsom
Today’s action comes as the project enters the track laying phase, is actively building across 171 miles, has built more than 50 major railway structures – including bridges, overpasses, and viaducts – and completed over 60 miles of guideway.
In the last year, high-speed rail has marked significant progress – with all environmental reviews spanning 463 miles from Los Angeles to the Bay Area complete, the electrification of Caltrain complete, trainset selection underway, station and track construction on deck, continued work with partner rail systems to create a southwest regional high-speed rail network, and more than 15,000 good paying jobs created. Passenger service is expected in the coming years, between 2030 and 2033.
High speed rail is a key part of Governor Newsom’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades and creating jobs throughout the state.