California Dems Push Buttigieg for $536M for High-Speed Rail Before Trump Cuts Spending

California’s high-speed rail project has become a textbook case of government waste and mismanagement. Yet, even as the incoming Trump administration signals a clampdown on bloated spending, California Democrats are scrambling for another $536 million in federal funding to keep their floundering train on the tracks.

In a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, California lawmakers including Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Pete Aguilar, Jim Costa, and Zoe Lofgren, made an urgent plea for the funding. They argue the project aligns with state and federal goals of safety, equity, and climate sustainability. But critics see it as yet another attempt to prop up a failure that has bled taxpayer dollars for over a decade.

• Initial cost estimate in 2008: $33 billion.

• Current cost projection: Between $88.5 billion and $127.9 billion.

• Federal funding already received: $6.8 billion.

• Progress as of 2024: Zero passengers transported; most of the project remains in the planning stage.

Despite these glaring red flags, California Governor Gavin Newsom remains unfazed. "We’re making rail real in California," he claimed, even as the original Los Angeles-to-San Francisco route has been downgraded to a modest Merced-to-Bakersfield segment.

With the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy set to assume oversight, California Democrats are pushing for expedited approval of the funds. Last week, DOGE outlined the grim reality on social media, summarizing the high-speed rail as an endless money pit.

The Sacramento Bee noted that the project has been plagued by delays and spiraling costs, yet its backers continue to tout lofty benefits like economic expansion and climate action. But to taxpayers, it’s a never-ending financial drain with little to show for the billions already spent.

Meanwhile, Newsom mocked DOGE, dismissing their fiscal accountability efforts as “a promo project.” Such rhetoric only underscores the state’s disconnect from financial reality as it clings to a dream increasingly seen as a nightmare.

As the Trump administration readies to restore sanity to federal spending, California’s desperate plea for more funding highlights a fundamental question: How long will taxpayers tolerate such egregious waste?

It’s time to demand accountability. Share this article and subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed as we approach a turning point in our nation’s leadership.