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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Trump rescinds $4bn in US funding for California high-speed rail project | Trump rescinds $4bn in US funding for California high-speed rail project |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| White House says no viable path forward for planned 800-mile system aiming to connect San Francisco to LA | White House says no viable path forward for planned 800-mile system aiming to connect San Francisco to LA |
| Donald Trump said on Wednesday the transportation department was rescinding $4bn in US government funding for California’s high-speed rail project. | Donald Trump said on Wednesday the transportation department was rescinding $4bn in US government funding for California’s high-speed rail project. |
| The department said there was no viable path forward for California’s high-speed rail development and it was considering potentially clawing back additional funding related to the project. | The department said there was no viable path forward for California’s high-speed rail development and it was considering potentially clawing back additional funding related to the project. |
| The Federal Railroad Administration issued a 315-page report last month citing missed deadlines, budget shortfalls and questionable ridership projections. | The Federal Railroad Administration issued a 315-page report last month citing missed deadlines, budget shortfalls and questionable ridership projections. |
| One key issue cited is that California had not identified $7bn in additional funding needed to build an initial 171-mile segment between Merced and Bakersfield, California. | One key issue cited is that California had not identified $7bn in additional funding needed to build an initial 171-mile segment between Merced and Bakersfield, California. |
| The California high-speed rail system is a planned two-phase 800-mile (1,300km) system with speeds of up to 220mph that aims to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, and in the second phase, extend north to Sacramento and south to San Diego. | The California high-speed rail system is a planned two-phase 800-mile (1,300km) system with speeds of up to 220mph that aims to connect San Francisco to Los Angeles/Anaheim, and in the second phase, extend north to Sacramento and south to San Diego. |
| The California High-Speed Rail Authority has said previously it strongly disagrees with the administration’s conclusions “which are misguided and do not reflect the substantial progress made to deliver high-speed rail in California”. | The California High-Speed Rail Authority has said previously it strongly disagrees with the administration’s conclusions “which are misguided and do not reflect the substantial progress made to deliver high-speed rail in California”. |
| It noted that the budget proposal of the California governor, Gavin Newsom,before the legislature extends at least $1bn a year in funding for the next 20 years “providing the necessary resources to complete the project’s initial operating segment”. | It noted that the budget proposal of the California governor, Gavin Newsom,before the legislature extends at least $1bn a year in funding for the next 20 years “providing the necessary resources to complete the project’s initial operating segment”. |
| The authority noted in May there was active civil construction along 119 miles in the state’s Central valley. | The authority noted in May there was active civil construction along 119 miles in the state’s Central valley. |
| The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said: “Newsom and California’s high-speed rail boondoggle are the definition of government incompetence and possibly corruption.” | The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said: “Newsom and California’s high-speed rail boondoggle are the definition of government incompetence and possibly corruption.” |
| Newsom responded on social media: “Won’t be taking advice from the guy who can’t keep planes in the sky.” | Newsom responded on social media: “Won’t be taking advice from the guy who can’t keep planes in the sky.” |
| Voters approved $10bn for the project in 2008, but the costs have risen sharply. The transportation department under former president Joe Biden awarded the project about $4bn. | Voters approved $10bn for the project in 2008, but the costs have risen sharply. The transportation department under former president Joe Biden awarded the project about $4bn. |
| The entire San Francisco-to-Los Angeles project was initially supposed to be completed by 2020 for $33bn, but has now jumped from $89bn to $128bn. | The entire San Francisco-to-Los Angeles project was initially supposed to be completed by 2020 for $33bn, but has now jumped from $89bn to $128bn. |
| On Thursday, Duffy told reporters he was confident the administration would defeat any lawsuit challenging the department’s decision to rescind the funding. | |
| “I wish it could have gone to California. We were supportive of the California project, but when we’re 16 years in and $15 bn without a track laid; and it’s going to cost over $130bn and no funding pathway for it, no timeline to complete it. We have to pull the plug,” he said. | |
| In 2021, Biden restored a $929m grant for California’s high-speed rail that Trump had revoked in 2019 after the Republican president called the project a “disaster”. | In 2021, Biden restored a $929m grant for California’s high-speed rail that Trump had revoked in 2019 after the Republican president called the project a “disaster”. |