‘The Huge Cash Present’ panel discusses President Donald Trump’s choice to drag the plug on California’s high-speed rail mission after 16 years of not laying one observe.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced a lawsuit in opposition to the Trump administration following the cancellation of greater than $4 billion in federal funds for the state’s high-speed rail mission.
“Trump’s termination of federal grants for California high-speed rail reeks of politics. It’s one more political stunt to punish California,” Newsom acknowledged in a information launch.
“In actuality, that is only a heartless assault on the Central Valley that can put actual jobs and livelihoods on the road. We’re suing to cease Trump from derailing America’s solely high-speed rail actively beneath development,” the governor continued.
The lawsuit alleges the termination was pushed by “petty, political retribution” reasonably than goal issues, focusing on California resulting from President Donald Trump’s hostility towards the state.
TRUMP ADMIN PULLS PLUG ON $4B FOR CALIFORNIA’S ‘TRAIN TO NOWHERE’ PROJECT
California Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced the Excessive Velocity Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over its “unlawful termination” of federal grants funding the mission. (Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
Whereas the lawsuit characterizes the choice as “petty, political retribution,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy justified the termination of $4 billion in unspent federal funding by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), citing 16 years of failure, no accomplished high-speed observe, and escalating prices.
Duffy declared the mission, dubbed the “practice to nowhere,” a mismanaged and over-budget “boondoggle.”
“That is California’s fault. Governor Newsom and the complicit Democrats have enabled this waste for years. Federal {dollars} are usually not a clean verify – they arrive with a promise to ship outcomes,” Duffy mentioned in an announcement.
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The Elkhorn grade separation beneath development throughout a high-speed rail mission in Fresno County, California, on Monday, April 18, 2022. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
The announcement adopted months of scrutiny after a complete compliance overview, plus failed makes an attempt by the California Excessive-Velocity Rail Authority (CHSRA) to handle severe mission deficiencies.
The 300-page report, launched again in June, examined the mission and located delays, missed deadlines, mismanagement, waste, skyrocketing prices, finances shortfalls and over-representation of projected ridership.
Different key findings revealed that the mission confronted ongoing — and certain rising — contractor value overruns resulting from delays and that the CHSRA did not finalize contracts for its high-speed trainsets on time.
The overview discovered that zero miles of high-speed observe have been laid since floor was damaged 10 years in the past, and the price continues to balloon.
Trump, echoing Duffy’s sentiment, additionally referred to the mission as a “boondoggle.”
“To the Legislation abiding, Tax paying, Hardworking Residents of america of America, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve formally freed you from funding California’s disastrously overpriced, “HIGH SPEED TRAIN TO NOWHERE,” Trump wrote in a put up on his social media platform, Reality Social.
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Contractors work on the McCombs Avenue grade separation throughout development of a high-speed rail mission in Kern County, California, on Tuesday, April, 19, 2022. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
“This boondoggle, led by the incompetent Governor of California, Gavin Newscum, has value Taxpayers Lots of of Billions of {Dollars}, and now we have acquired NOTHING in return besides Price Overruns. The Railroad we have been promised nonetheless doesn’t exist, and by no means will,” Trump continued.
“This mission was Severely Overpriced, Overregulated, and NEVER DELIVERED. Because of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, not a SINGLE penny in Federal {Dollars} will go in direction of this Newscum SCAM ever once more. This was an ill-conceived and pointless mission, and a complete waste of Taxpayer cash — However no extra!”
Newsom pushed again on Trump’s criticism, arguing that his administration illegally terminated federal grant agreements funding the high-speed rail.
Newsom contrasted California’s progress with different states, stating that the Golden State’s mission was nicely forward of others.
“Trump desires handy China the longer term and abandon the Central Valley. We received’t let him. With initiatives just like the Texas high-speed rail failing to take off, we’re miles forward of others,” Newsom wrote.
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“We’re now within the track-laying section and constructing America’s solely high-speed rail. California is placing all choices on the desk to struggle this unlawful motion,” he continued.
Along with canceling $4 billion in unspent federal funds to CHSRA, Duffy directed FRA to overview different obligated and unobligated grants associated to the CHSRA mission.
Fox Information Digital’s Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.