Rep. Kiley to Introduce Bill to Eliminate All Federal Funding For California High-Speed Rail Authority

Congressman Kevin Kiley (R-CA) announced on Wednesday that he plans to introduce a bill soon that would eliminate federal funding for the failed California High-Speed Rail project, which, if successful, would amount to at least $8 billion in potential federal funding.

Originally estimated to cost $33 billion in 2008, costs of the California high speed rail system has ballooned to well over $100 billion, whittled down to $98 billion, then cut to $68 billion, and back up to $113 billion, to $128 billion, and up again to $135 billion. Completion dates have also been continuously delayed, with the original goal of the system traveling from San Francisco to Los Angeles by 2028, to well into the 2030’s for only a partial completion. Despite numerous setbacks, and more Californians calling the plans into question, construction on the Bakersfield to Merced leg have continued on for the last several years, with overall support for the program still just above 50% in the state, and the federal government pouring billions into the project as well.

At the beginning of this year,  construction estimates were at $128 billion to $135 billion, with estimated partial completion still being in the 2030’s. However, California High Speed Rail Authority (CHRSA) CEO Brian Kelly told lawmakers in March that more is needed. In the short term, the $28 billion allocated to connect Bakersfield with Merced as part of phase one would be falling short of what is needed. The cost is now set between $32 Billion and $35 Billion for an estimated opening between the years 2030 and 2033. Kelly also asked the Governor to prioritize the project and asked lawmakers to send some rainy day funds towards the project to help finish the first leg. Longer-term, Kelly shocked both Republicans and Democrats by saying that, according to the latest updated draft plan, at least another $100 billion in total would be needed to complete the total linkup between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

Since March, the “$100 billion behind” number has remained largely unchanged. But the grand scale of the project has only invited more criticism. Following Donald Trump’s victory last month and his proposal of forming the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the cost of the High Speed Rail project has once again fallen under federal crosshairs. Previously, Trump cancelled around $1 billion in funding for the project when he was still in his first term, only for President Joe Biden to bring it back, along with an extra $300,000.

A new bill to eliminate rail funding

However, earlier this month, all federal funding was suddenly on the line, as expected DOGE Co-Commissioner Vivek Ramaswamy confirmed last week that DOGE will be looking at removing all-funding from the California High Speed rail project. In particular, Ramaswamy balked at project needing at least $100 billion more to be completed, the constant delays, and project’s substantial delays and the $6.8 billion in federal funding it has received and the $8 billion in additional funding that has been requested. Following the announcement by Ramaswamy, Kiley spoke on the House floor praising the decision.

This led to Wednesday when Congressman Kiley, who has for years stood firmly opposed to the High-Speed rail system as an Assemblyman in Sacramento, announced that he would be creating legislation that would eliminate all federal funding for the 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,” said Kiley 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.”

As he is a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Kiley could easily jumpstart DOGE’s efforts to federally block funding. Also helping is an incoming GOP majority in the House and Senate, many Democrats expressing doubts about the project, and incoming President Donald Trump opposing the project.

While the bill has yet to be introduced, it will likely be on the House floor early next year to coincide with DOGE starting up and a new session in Washington.

“Kiley’s bill will serve as one of many avenues for the effort to end federal funding for the project,” transportation industry accountant Derrick Clark told the Globe Friday. “Remember, DOGE can only recommend, and that’s if they are formed at all. But going through the House and Senate as a standard bill is one way to do it. You can put pressure on the Department of Transportation. You can do what the Trump administration did last time and end it through the Federal Railroad Administration. Executive orders. Department of Justice legal issues. There’s a lot of way to do this.

“Kiley’s bill is by far the cleanest way to do it, as it would be simple passed legislation that Trump would never veto. But should it fail, Trump can stop funding in other ways, likely through the FRA again. But with Kiley’s bill, it would be a lot harder to overturn and a lot more permanent. Plus this shows Trump once again that he still has a contingent of support in California. As Governor Gavin Newsom has been a big proponent of the High-Speed rail system and against Trump, trying to Trump-proof the state, this bill would really embarrass him. You know, who helped kill funding for the bill? A Californian.”

The bill is expected to be introduced in the House in the coming months.