President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is rescinding $4 billion in federal funding for California’s high-speed rail project, calling it a “train to nowhere.”
In a Truth Social post, Trump blasted Governor Gavin Newsom and the California High-Speed Rail Authority, accusing them of wasting taxpayer money on a “boondoggle” that has “never delivered.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation echoed the move, citing no viable path forward for the long-delayed project. A recent 315-page Federal Railroad Administration report flagged missed deadlines, funding gaps, and weak ridership projections. California has yet to secure $7 billion needed to complete a 171-mile Central Valley segment.
The state’s rail authority pushed back, calling the administration’s assessment misguided and noting active construction along 119 miles. Newsom’s proposed budget includes $1 billion annually for two decades to support the project.
Trump praised Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for cutting off funds, promising, “not a single penny more.”
