U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has released an investigative report that criticizes the Obama-Biden administration's management of the NextGen Acela train project. The report states that delays and overengineering led to $287 million in additional costs for taxpayers, resulting in new trains that generally run about 10 minutes slower than their predecessors.
The investigation outlines how a joint procurement plan aimed to use the same train model on both the Northeast Corridor—where some tracks date back to the 1830s—and California’s planned high-speed rail system. This approach, according to the report, caused more than 18 months of delays and disregarded advice from manufacturers. The administration is said to have purchased trains with capabilities that could not be fully used without significant infrastructure upgrades costing tens of billions of dollars.
Senator Cruz commented on the findings: “The report exposes how the Obama–Biden administration promised Americans high-speed rail and failed for over a decade to deliver it. Against the advice of experts and manufacturers, the administration awarded an over-budget high-speed train contract without a workable plan for deployment. We cannot continue to frivolously use millions of taxpayer dollars without producing an improved passenger rail system.”
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation related to commerce, science, and transportation during congressional sessions, as outlined on its official website. The committee includes members from both parties who oversee national issues in these fields through hearings and subcommittees. It operates as a standing committee within the legislative branch and is directed by a chairman. The main office is located in the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., according to information available on its website.
The full investigative report can be accessed online.
