President Donald Trump has called for an audit that could kill California’s high-speed rail proposal, which has been around for nearly two decades and has made little progress.
Many union workers who rely on the federal lifeline threw tomatoes and heck dogs at Union Station in Los Angeles on Thursday as his department will lead to figure out how to use the funds.
“It’s been 17 years and $16 billion, and no railways have been built,” Duffy said.
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Sean Duffy arrives at Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer for nominations to lead the Department of Transportation, December 10, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
He added: “So if you want to protest somewhere, if you want to yell at someone, go to the governor’s mansion – go talk to Democrats in the Legislature, these Democrats have brought us this bad project.”
Specifically, the Secretary wanted to investigate whether there have been any shady business dealings related to the failure of the railway project so far. As of January, the state is touting the program’s Bakersfield District.
“In the United States, there is no country closer to launching a high-speed rail than California – today, we have just taken a huge step forward. We are entering the track and field stage, completing the structure of key segments and for the high-speed rail network.
He added: “The future of transportation is being realized in the Central Valley, where thousands of highly paid jobs have been created and 171 miles are being worked on. Only California can, we are building the largest infrastructure project in the United States.”
Federal taxpayers spend nearly $3 billion on the project – President Joe Biden has promised another $4 billion, but has not yet spent. Audits could provide Trump with legal authority to regain the money.
According to the Associated Press, there is little to show for the project, and it is expected to spend $100.6 billion to achieve its ultimate goal from Los Angeles to San Francisco. Supporters argue that the railroad will make California one of the largest states in the United States, more connected.
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The ongoing construction of the California Bullet Train Project was shot to the right in Corcoran, California and Hanford, California. (Getty Image)
R-Calif. Congressman Kevin Kiley is pleased to see the project receive federal attention.
“We have been battling this disastrous project and now, thanks to Secretary Duffy and President Trump, we finally have a chance to hope to end it,” he told Fox News Digital.
He added: “I’m not sure why anyone would agree with what’s going on in California. We’re really wasting taxpayers’ money on an epic scale without getting anything in return.”
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (Getty Image)
Additionally, R-Calif’s Congresswoman Young Kim believes that the program’s accountability is “it’s the time.”
“We will see if this investigation leads to any fraud and waste discovery. If there is a fraudulent high-speed rail project that has been involved in the process in some way,” she said.
