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7/21/2025
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin last week announced the state's high-speed rail project is moving ahead despite President Donald Trump's administration revoking $4 billion in unspent federal funding for the project.
California's high-speed rail project is the largest state-led infrastructure project in the nation, Omishakin said in a prepared statement issued by the California State Transportation Agency.
"The high-speed rail project is creating jobs, transforming communities and delivering real progress," said Omishaken. "Turning back now would mean abandoning the future. We're not going to let that happen."
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced July 17 the California High Speed Rail Authority is suing the Trump administration over what Newsom calls a "politically motivated" termination of the federal high-speed rail funds.
The lawsuit alleges that termination of the agreements is petty, political retribution, motivated by Trump’s personal animus toward California and the high-speed rail project, not by facts on the ground, according to a press release issued by Newsom's office.
The lawsuit was filed as the project enters the track laying phase, is actively building across 171 miles, has built more than 50 major railway structures — including bridges, overpasses and viaducts — and completed over 60 miles of guideway, Newsom administration officials said.