Payam Javan: The Trump administration has officially revoked $4 billion in federal funding for California’s long-stalled high-speed rail project. This decision, announced by President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, intensifies uncertainty surrounding the ambitious San Francisco–Los Angeles bullet train initiative. The administration cited significant cost overruns, repeated delays, and a lack of tangible progress, with President Trump labeling the project a “scam” and a “train to nowhere.” This move follows earlier threats and a Federal Railroad Administration report concluding that even a partial segment of the line would not meet its 2033 deadline.

California officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, have strongly condemned the federal action, calling it illegal and a politically motivated act of retaliation. The California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA) stated that it had met all federal requirements and passed multiple audits, vowing to pursue all legal options to fight the funding cut. The project, initially conceived to connect the state’s major cities, has seen its estimated cost skyrocket from $33 billion to potentially $135 billion, with no completion date in sight, further fueling the controversy surrounding its feasibility and financial management.