“Not a Penny More”: Trump Axes Funding for California High-Speed Rail

In a move sure to send shockwaves through California’s transportation agenda, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration will no longer fund the state’s controversial high-speed rail project. The declaration came via a post on Truth Social, where the president wrote that “not a single penny in federal dollars” will go toward the long-delayed project.

The announcement drew praise from Central Valley leaders who have long viewed the project as an expensive boondoggle. One of the most vocal critics, Assemblywoman Alexandra M. Macedo, wasted no time issuing a blistering response.

“After 17 years and $14 billion spent, the high-speed fail has only managed to start construction from a field to an orchard,” Macedo said in a statement. “Not a foot of track has been laid.”

The California High-Speed Rail project, originally proposed to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles, has been plagued by delays, cost overruns, and public criticism since its inception. Macedo, who represents the 33rd Assembly District encompassing Tulare, Kings, and Fresno Counties, said it’s time for the state to cut its losses.

“The state needs to stop wasting taxpayers’ monies,” she said. “The high-speed rail is not salvageable. The state has higher priorities like water infrastructure and wildfire prevention – lifesaving projects that can provide well-paying jobs for skilled workers in the Central Valley.”

President Trump’s post echoed that sentiment, aligning his decision with a broader push for fiscal responsibility and reprioritization of federal infrastructure spending.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority has not yet responded to the funding cut announcement, but Democratic leaders are expected to push back on the decision. Still, critics say the writing is on the wall for a project that has made little visible progress despite nearly two decades of work and billions of dollars invested.

California Democrats swiftly condemned the move, calling it politically motivated and a direct attack on the state’s infrastructure ambitions. Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic leaders argued that the funding withdrawal is illegal and have vowed to challenge it in court. They maintain that the high-speed rail project remains a vital investment in California’s future—one that supports clean energy goals, reduces highway congestion, and creates thousands of jobs. Despite criticism, they point to ongoing progress, including more than 50 completed structures and over 60 miles of guideway under construction, rejecting claims that the project has failed to advance.

With federal dollars now officially off the table, the future of California’s high-speed rail remains uncertain—and likely off track.