The California high-speed rail project's costs have grown from an original estimate of $33 billion and $45 billion to a range between $89 and $135 billion, according to multiple sources and officials. The project has spent approximately $13-15 billion so far and was expected to receive an additional $4 billion in federal funding before the cut. The project has also created about 15,000 jobs.

Local responses are mixed but focus heavily on economic and employment concerns. According to multiple sources, some Central Valley communities express anxiety about job losses resulting from funding cuts. Proponents, including state officials, argue the project is vital for local economies and job creation, while opponents are frustrated with the project’s delays and ballooning expenditures.

California’s high-speed rail faced federal funding cuts during Trump’s first term, which were later restored under the Biden administration. The American public sector has never completed a large-scale high-speed rail project, despite proposals dating back decades. Prior attempts at federally supported rail projects have often stalled due to funding, political, and regulatory barriers.