Newsom Folds: California Ends Lawsuit Against Trump Admin Over High-Speed Rail Funding

California Governor Gavin Newsom has decided to end the state’s lawsuit against the Trump administration concerning the rescinding of $4 billion in federal funding for the California High-Speed Rail project. The lawsuit, filed in July, argued that the funding cut was politically motivated and unlawful, a continuation of what the state perceived as political retaliation from the Trump administration. Despite a recent court ruling allowing the case to proceed, the California High-Speed Rail Authority filed a notice of voluntary dismissal on December 23rd, leaving open the possibility of refiling the suit in the future. The project, initially approved by voters in 2008 with a $10 billion bond and an estimated completion date of 2020, has faced significant cost overruns, ballooning to between $89 billion and $128 billion with a projected completion date of 2033. The state now intends to pursue alternative funding sources, including private investors, and views the federal government as an unreliable partner in the project’s advancement, citing federal requirements that have allegedly added costs and delays.

(Source：Zerohedge)