Fresno officials say Trump’s plan to pull CA high-speed rail funds is misguided
Fresno-area officials say the Trump administration is misguided for threatening to pull $4 billion in federal funds earmarked for California’s high-speed rail project.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the state “has no viable path to complete this project on time or on budget” in a Wednesday letter to the California High-Speed Rail Authority. The lengthy report said the rail project has been rife with “delays, mismanagement, waste and skyrocketing costs.”
President Donald Trump had signaled he would attempt to pull back financial support from the federal government toward the project, as he did during his first term. But the region’s officials said the federal money is urgently needed to finish construction in the Central Valley.
Without those funds, officials expressed concern about more delays as the project lumbers toward its anticipated launch in the Central Valley by 2033.
“He doesn’t understand the San Joaquin Valley or the legal challenges that have delayed this project. Instead, he is stalling progress and killing good-paying jobs to score political points,” U.S. Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said in a statement.
Seventeen years after voters approved Proposition 1A to fund California’s high-speed rail system, the project remains incomplete, delayed by changing construction costs and a series of lawsuits. Officials at the rail authority say the project — which aimed to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles via bullet trains by 2020 — expects to launch service from Merced to Bakersfield between 2030 and 2033.
It’s unclear how the potential loss in federal funds would impact high-speed rail construction in the Central Valley.
Merced Mayor Matthew Serratto said the federal government should not reverse its funding commitments, regardless of changes in presidential administrations. He supports a phased approach starting with the Merced-to-Bakersfield line and expanding later.
“A high-speed rail is probably the best way to travel,” Serratto said. “It’s no secret that the execution has been poor and leaves a lot to be desired, but at the same time, a lot has been built.”
Still, Serratto called the 2033 target ambitious, noting that property acquisition remains a significant hurdle. A few of the properties that will have to be acquired in Merced to complete the railway are a Boys n Girls Club as well as a homeless shelter.
“To an extent they are trying to serve too many masters with this project,” Seratto said.
Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said the potential loss of federal funding for high-speed rail raises concerns for the city, “where this project plays a critical role in our future,” emphasizing the rail project’s role in Fresno’s development and economy.
“High-speed rail isn’t just about transportation — it’s about connecting Fresno’s people and economy to the rest of California. It represents jobs, growth, and long-term opportunity for our region,” Dyer said. “I encourage the High-Speed Rail Authority to take the necessary steps to address the findings and keep this transformative project moving forward.”
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM.
