U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has released a supplemental investigative report that criticizes the progress of California’s high-speed rail project. The report states that despite more than 25 years and $6.8 billion in federal funds, no high-speed trains are currently operating in California.
The investigation points to what it describes as significant mismanagement by state officials, including Governor Gavin Newsom, resulting in repeated delays and increased costs. In July 2025, the Trump administration announced the termination of $4.2 billion in funding for the California High-Speed Rail Authority (CHSRA), after the Federal Railroad Administration determined CHSRA would not meet its commitment to begin service on a 171-mile segment between Merced and Bakersfield by 2033.
The CHSRA acknowledged last year that even when operational, the Merced-to-Bakersfield line would not be profitable and would not recover taxpayer investment. Additionally, plans for high-speed rail service between San Francisco and Los Angeles have been delayed until at least 2038—over a decade later than originally projected. In response to these developments, Congress has moved to permanently rescind $929 million for the project as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
Senator Cruz’s latest findings expand on a previous report from last month, which described how pressure from the Obama-Biden administration led Amtrak to jointly acquire a high-speed trainset with CHSRA—a move Cruz says contributed to further delays and design issues for Amtrak’s NextGen Acela trainset.
Commenting on his report, Sen. Cruz stated: “The report exposes how, despite ballooning costs and delays, Governor Newsom and the Biden-Harris administration continued to pour billions of dollars into the non-operational and unprofitable California high-speed rail project. Democrats made false promises on high-speed rail, failing to take into account the project’s practical challenges. I applaud the Trump administration for working with Congress to stop the frivolous waste of the hard-earned money of American taxpayers.”
The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is responsible for reviewing legislation related to commerce, science, and transportation during congressional sessions according to its official website. The committee is directed by a chairman and includes senators from both parties while focusing on matters involving interstate commerce among other policy areas here. Its main office is located in Washington D.C.’s Russell Senate Office Building as noted online.
