"As the federal government shutdown drags on, the Trump administration has doubled down on a tactic of dubious legality that it has been pursuing since January: cancelling federal funding for already congressionally approved projects in blue cities and states. Back in the summer, the administration pulled $4 billion from the California high speed rail project. It followed up a month later by withdrawing another $175 million from the project."
"In 2019, when Donald Trump 1.0 attempted a similarly destructive maneuver against the high-speed rail system, California sued. Two years later, with Joe Biden as president, the funds were fully restored. This time around, California has sued again, arguing that the deprivation of funds, despite the project having fulfilled all the legally required reviews, is an act of political retribution - and one that puts more than 15,000 jobs on the line."
The federal government shutdown has been accompanied by cancellations of federal funding for congressionally approved projects in Democratic cities and states. Major cuts include $4 billion and an additional $175 million removed from California's high-speed rail, funds intended for stations, viaducts and bridges. California voters previously authorized tens of billions via bond revenue, but the federal cuts create a budget shortfall and complicate completion of vital segments. California previously sued after similar 2019 actions and won restoration of funds under a later administration; current litigation contends the funding deprivation is political retribution and threatens more than 15,000 jobs. The tactic has been expanded nationally.
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