GOP lawmakers seek end to federal funds for California high-speed rail project

A dozen Republican congressmen — led by House Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Ranking Member Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) — are asking U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to justify federal funding for California’s high-speed rail project.

In a letter to the secretary, the lawmakers detail their concerns about any additional federal funds going to the project, which has had significant cost overruns and delays since 2008.

Joining Crawford on the letter were Reps. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), Mike Garcia (R-Calif.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Young Kim (R-Calif.), Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), Scott Perry (R-Penn.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), and Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.).

The letter notes recent praise for the project from the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Railroad Administration. That praise "ignores the troubling fact that the California high-speed rail project is exorbitant, costly and perpetually behind schedule," the letter states.

"This venture represents a glaring illustration of poor planning and massive taxpayer waste. As such, the project should not receive funding or support from the DOT," the lawmakers wrote.

The text of the letter is available here.