California Republicans Want to Claw Back Funding for Their Own State on High-Speed Rail

A high-speed rail project between Los Angeles and San Francisco is over budget, behind schedule and in the crosshairs of Republicans.

Kevin Kiley

Rep. Kevin Kiley arrives with for the House Republican leadership elections at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. Angelina Katsanis/POLITICO/AP

Since its inception, California’s multibillion-dollar effort to construct a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco has been plagued by lawsuits, cost overruns and permitting challenges — all of which have helped to significantly delay the project.

But in just a few weeks, the state’s High-Speed Rail Authority will face yet another obstacle to its work: full Republican control of Washington.

On the heels of Donald Trump’s win, Republican lawmakers representing California once again see an opening to kill any federal funding for a high-speed rail in their state, telling NOTUS they even hope to claw back any unspent funds.