House Oversight Investigates California High-Speed Rail Federal Funding

House Republicans, led by Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer, have launched an investigation into the California High-Speed Rail Authority's use of federal funds amid allegations of inflated ridership projections and questionable financial practices. The original project, approved by voters in 2008 with an estimated cost of $33 billion, now faces ballooning cost estimates of up to $128 billion and significant delays, with service not expected to begin until at least 2032. Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) officials recently terminated approximately $4 billion in unspent federal funding, citing mismanagement and noncompliance with grant terms, which the California High-Speed Rail Authority is legally challenging. Governor Gavin Newsom has condemned the investigation as politically motivated and harmful to California's economy and jobs. The House Oversight Committee has requested detailed documents and briefings from the Department of Transportation to assess whether federal funds were allocated under false pretenses and to evaluate the project's transparency and legal compliance. The investigation underscores growing federal scrutiny of the troubled high-speed rail project amid ongoing cost overruns and stalled progress.