Disregarding His Central California Voters: Trump Stands Firm on Refusing to Fund California High-Speed Rail Project
California's ambitious high-speed train project, initially envisioned as a $33 billion bullet train, has faced numerous setbacks since voters approved funding in 2008. The cost of the project has more than tripled, and the scope has been scaled back, with completion now slated for 2033 for an initial segment that connects two smaller cities in the Central Valley.
The project's budget and timeline have repeatedly been blown past, prompting the Trump administration to pull $4 billion in federal funding in mid-2024, citing a lack of a "viable path" forward. California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom and the High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri, have contested this decision, stating that the funding agreements were legally binding and that the project had met all obligations confirmed by federal reviews as recently as early 2025.
Under the Biden administration, federal funding has not been reinstated, and California continues to pursue state-level funding measures. Governor Newsom signed a bill in July 2025 requiring a comprehensive funding plan for the Central Valley segment, along with an annual allocation of $1 billion over the next 20 years in the state budget for completing the initial operating segment.
The state's high-speed rail authority will now focus on building only the Central Valley segment of the planned San Joaquin Valley high-speed rail. Izzy Gardon, the governor's spokesman, stated that walking away from the project now as they enter the track-laying phase would be reckless, wasting billions already invested and letting job-killers cede a generational infrastructure advantage to China.
Construction on the initial segment is underway, with Governor Newsom visiting Bakersfield in January to tout progress on the project. The crossing of Rosecrans and Marquardt in California is traversed by over 110 freight and passenger trains and over 52,000 vehicles every day, with three deaths and 19 other accidents occurring there in the last three years.
Caltrans is seeking public input to determine priorities for the California State Rail Plan, which will provide the framework for California's rail network for the next 20 years. The high-speed rail train is going through politically red cities, where many residents voted for Trump. The California Department of Transportation has launched the California State Rail Plan.
Despite the challenges, the project has made significant progress, with 171 miles under active construction primarily in the Central Valley. However, the completion of the full route from San Francisco to Los Angeles remains on hold due to budget constraints and funding challenges.
References:
- California's High-Speed Rail Project: Progress and Challenges
- California High-Speed Rail: The Biden Administration's Role and Future Funding
- California High-Speed Rail: The Trump Administration's Decision to Withdraw Federal Funding
- California High-Speed Rail: Legal Battle Over Federal Funding Withdrawal
- California's high-speed train project, a significant segment of which is the San Joaquin Valley high-speed rail, faces continued funding challenges due to budget overruns and delays.
- In a bid to secure financing, the state's high-speed rail authority is focusing on constructing the Central Valley segment, aiming to complete the initial operating segment by 2033.
- As the project progresses, environmental concerns and public safety matters continue to be addressed, with Caltrans soliciting input for the California State Rail Plan to ensure a comprehensive approach to the rail network for the next 20 years.
- The project's political landscape is complicated, with the high-speed rail train traversing politically red cities where many residents voted for Trump. This political dimension adds another layer of complexity to the project's future, particularly in securing federal funding.
