Trump strikes again at California's high-speed train.
The California project could face more setbacks.
President Donald Trump has criticized California's high-speed rail plan, calling it "the most poorly managed project," arguing that it has incurred massive cost overruns that should be investigated. In statements to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump claimed that "hundreds of billions of dollars" in cost overruns have been generated, which he deemed unacceptable for any project.
A spokesperson for the California High-Speed Rail Authority did not provide direct comments but posted a message on X, indicating that the “noise” should be ignored and that they are focused on construction. The authority also responded to Trump's claims, clarifying that only $10.5 billion of the $13 billion allocated by the state has been spent. The project, which includes 50 major structures and 60 guides, has generated 14,600 jobs, according to their post.
These figures are unlikely to influence Trump’s stance, who canceled $1 billion in federal funding in 2019, arguing that the project had "repeatedly failed to meet" its agreements and had made "no reasonable progress." The Biden administration restored the funding in 2021 and also granted $3.1 billion as part of an $8.2 billion investment in high-speed rail, which also encompasses a private line between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.
Republicans have consistently criticized these projects, labeling them as wasteful, especially the California project, which has come to symbolize the partisan clash over costly infrastructure initiatives. In 2008, California voters approved a 500-mile project promising to transport passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco in under three hours, using fully electric trains that would reach speeds of up to 220 mph. In contrast, the fastest train in the U.S., the Acela, operates at 160 mph but only on specific segments.
The project has faced several challenges, including uncertainty over federal commitments. Despite some advances, the estimated completion date has been postponed by nearly a decade, and costs have risen significantly. Project advocates cite issues such as mismanagement, excessive reliance on consultants, and difficulties in acquiring land.
Elon Musk has heavily criticized the high-speed train, proposing his idea of the hyperloop as an alternative. However, he stated to his biographer that the idea was conceived to divert attention from the high-speed train, which presented more complications. The hyperloop has yet to materialize, and some companies that attempted to develop it have gone bankrupt. Meanwhile, high-speed rail in California continues to progress slowly, with expectations of completing a 171-mile stretch between Merced and Bakersfield between 2030 and 2033.
With the arrival of DOGE, the department founded by Musk that has gained access to significant government resources, there is a risk that the tech magnate may disrupt funding for the project. Vivek Ramaswamy, former co-chair of DOGE, who stepped down to run for governor of Ohio, described high-speed rail as "a vanity project and a wasteful endeavor" consuming billions of dollars with no prospects for completion in the next decade. In anticipation of Trump potentially seeking to cancel federal investment again, the authority is preparing by considering alternative plans.
Various studies have shown that high-speed rail could be enormously beneficial for the environment and the fight against climate change, providing a fast and viable route that encourages citizens to opt for a more eco-friendly mode of transportation, moving away from polluting cars and regional planes.
