The Trump administration has launched an investigation into California’s high-speed rail project in what could be the first step in clawing back the $4 billion promised by the Biden administration to build out the first section of the line, from Merced to Bakersfield.

President Donald Trump canceled nearly $1 billion in federal funding for the high-speed rail project in 2019, during his first term. The Biden administration later restored the funding and, in December 2023, allocated $3.3 billion more.

While U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy questioned the cross-state high-speed rail project, he praised the Las Vegas-to-Los Angeles effort.

The transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, said the government would conduct a “compliance review” on a $3.1 billion grant, potentially threatening the viability of the troubled project.

USA: 'With multiple independent federal and state audits completed, every dollar is accounted for, and we stand by the progress and impact of this project', California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri said after recently appointed US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a review of federal

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy said the California high-speed rail project will continue to cost taxpayers billions of dollars with no definitive timeline for completion.