Trump administration pulls $1B from California rail project
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Trump administration cancelled nearly $1 billion Thursday in federal money for California’s high-speed rail project, further throwing into question the future of the ambitious plan to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom immediately pledged to take the administration to court.
“The Trump Administration’s action is illegal and a direct assault on California,” he said in an emailed statement. “This is California’s money, appropriated by Congress, and we will vigorously defend it in court.”
The Federal Railroad Administration’s official word it was cancelling the money came several months after President Donald Trump and Newsom sniped at each other over the project. The FRA said in a statement that it’s still exploring whether it can force California to return $2.5 billion the state has already spent.