California's High-Speed Rail Authority has repeatedly missed critical deadlines to purchase trains essential for the state's high-speed rail project, according to a CBS California investigation. This failure was cited by federal officials when $4 billion in funding was pulled in July 2025.

Originally approved by voters in 2008, the project aimed to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles in under three hours with electric trains capable of speeds up to 220 mph. However, there is currently no direct rail line between the two cities, and travel times range from 10.5 to 12 hours. The current construction focuses on a 171-mile flat stretch in the Central Valley between Merced and Bakersfield, chosen for its easier construction without tunnels.

The Trump administration withdrew $4 billion in federal funding after the state failed to lay any tracks despite spending $15 billion over 16 years. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated, "federal dollars are not a blank check — they come with a promise to deliver results."

Governor Gavin Newsom blamed the funding cut on the Trump administration. However, records show the California High-Speed Rail Authority itself missed multiple deadlines to procure the trains, a key federal grant requirement. The authority also quietly dropped its lawsuit weeks after missing a new deadline it had promised a federal judge.

In August 2023, the rail authority's board approved trainset procurement, emphasizing that contracting a manufacturer in 2024 was "critical" for both federal grants and the project timeline. Sources indicate that High Speed Rail CEO Ian Choudri changed trainset specifications shortly after assuming leadership in 2024.

State Attorney General Rob Bonta promptly sued following the funding withdrawal, but the project now faces delivering a substantially reduced system.

Sources

Notable Quotes