California High Speed Rail Sues Federal Government Following $4 Billion Funding Cut Claiming ‘Petty, Political Retribution’

Governor Gavin Newsom announced late Thursday that the California High Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) would be suing the Trump administration over the $4 billion in federal cuts to the High-Speed Rail program.

According to the announcement by Newsom’s office, a suit was filed at the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, with CHSRA claiming that Trump’s action was illegal and  was as an “arbitrary and capricious” abuse of authority. They further went on to claim that the decision to cancel the funding was out of “petty, political retribution,” with President Donald Trump motivated by his dislike of many Californian policies, including the HSR system.

“Trump’s termination of federal grants for California high-speed rail reeks of politics. It’s yet another political stunt to punish California,” said Newsom. “In reality, this is just a heartless attack on the Central Valley that will put real jobs and livelihoods on the line. We’re suing to stop Trump from derailing America’s only high-speed rail actively under construction.”

On Wednesday, both Newsom and CHSRA CEO Ian Choudri had said that Trump’s action was illegal and that it was supposedly costing jobs in the region, going so far as to threaten a lawsuit.

“Canceling these grants without cause isn’t just wrong — it’s illegal,” noted Choudri on Wednesday. “These are legally binding agreements, and the Authority has met every obligation, as confirmed by repeated federal reviews, as recently as February 2025. America’s only high-speed rail project underway is fast approaching the track-laying phase, with 171 miles under active construction and design, 15,500 jobs created, and more than 50 major structures completed. This is no time for Washington to walk away on America’s transportation future.”

Newsom also tried to claim that some progress has been made with the HSR system.

“Today’s action comes 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,” explained his press release.

CHSRA sues the federal government

However, opponents of the HSR system said that the lawsuit is nothing short of frivolous, as it has been nothing but a money pit since day one. Originally estimated to cost $33 billion in 2008 with a San Francisco to Los Angeles line to open by 2028, the California high speed rail system has since ballooned to $128 billion, then $135 billion+, with an estimated partial completion somewhere in the late 2030’s. And last year, CHRSA actually confirmed that the system still needed $100 billion to link up San Francisco and Los Angeles. The true cost may also be much higher than anticipated, with some estimates during the Governorship of Jerry Brown putting that figure at around $350 billion.

Along with the high cost, opponents further said that the HSR funds are desperately needed elsewhere, and that the CHSRA lawsuit has no legs to stand on, as it is a federal decision. Choudri’s claim of CHSRA meeting “every obligation” has also been called into question. In addition to all the missed deadlines and rising costs through the years, a recent Federal Railroad Administration report found that CHRSA has been riddled with missed deadlines, money issues, incorrect projections, and the projected completion date being moved farther and farther into the future.

Backed by the FRA and numerous other reports, the Trump administration made their decision on Wednesday to stop federal funding of a program failing to meet basic benchmarks.

“This is California’s fault. Governor Newsom and the complicit Democrats have enabled this waste for years. Federal dollars are not a blank check – they come with a promise to deliver results. After over a decade of failures, CHSRA’s mismanagement and incompetence has proven it cannot build its train to nowhere on time or on budget,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in a statement. “It’s time for this boondoggle to die.”

With a lawsuit now up, the federal government will likely defend their actions on multiple basis’, including legally, monetarily, and through overall performance. As of Friday afternoon, the federal government has yet to give an official response to the CHRSA lawsuit.