The Trump administration has initiated an audit of California's beleaguered high-speed rail project, which has faced significant delays and is projected to exceed its budget by $100 billion.
Originally intended to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles, the project has yet to fulfill its promise, raising concerns about its viability and fiscal responsibility.
According to Breitbart News, President Donald Trump previously cautioned that the federal government might reclaim over $4 billion allocated to the project. During his first term, he also halted $1 billion in funding for the struggling initiative. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy encountered protesters during his announcement of the audit in Los Angeles.
Duffy stated, "If California wants to continue to invest, thats fine, but we in the Trump administration are going to take a look at whether this project is worthy of continual investment." The audit will assess the compliance of the $4 billion in federal funds designated for the high-speed rail, which aims to connect Los Angeles to San Francisco via bullet trains. The review will "help determine" if the funds should remain allocated to the initial segment between Merced and Bakersfield in the Central Valley, as noted by the U.S. Department of Transportation.
The high-speed rail project has faced criticism, even within California, where support is limited to certain areas of the Central Valley. Meanwhile, a separate high-speed rail venture between the Los Angeles area and Las Vegas has garnered more favorable opinions.
This project, initiated with private funding, is seen as having a higher chance of success, serving more as an entertainment option than a practical transportation solution.
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