New bill could halt federal funding for California High-Speed Rail Authority project

Representative Kevin Kiley (R-Roseville) announced Wednesday that he plans to introduce a bill to eliminate federal funding for the California High-Speed Rail project.

“California’s high-speed rail project has failed because of political ineptitude, and there is no plausible scenario where the cost to federal or state taxpayers can be justified,” Rep. Kiley said in a statement. “Our share of federal transportation funding should go towards real infrastructure needs, such as improving roads that rank among the worst in the country.”

In its final form, the California High-Speed Rail Authority will transport passengers from as far north as Sacramento to as far south as San Diego. However, it is probably best known as a connector between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

The project's “initial operating segment” will be located in the Central Valley, connecting the community of Merced to the city of Bakersfield. Construction is already underway, and operations could begin as soon as 2030.

The project is a public endeavor funded by taxpayers at the state level, with some support from the federal government. The complete system will cost tens of billions of dollars, and only a portion of the funding has been acquired so far. Still, the CAHSR Authority said its constantly searching for additional funds to make the entire project a reality.

According to the Department of Government Efficiency, an unofficial government department to be led by billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the project has already received $$6.8 billion in federal funding and has requested $8 billion in additional funding.

In a post on X, The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has listed the California High-Speed Rail Project as an example of wasteful spending.

Kiley sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which is controlled by Republicans who have long been critical of the project. Before it goes into effect, the bill would need to pass the House and Senate and be signed by President-elect Trump