Rep. Kevin Kiley Blasts Newsom’s High-Speed Rail Lawsuit as “Epic Waste of Taxpayer Dollars”

WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a recent House meeting, California Congressman Kevin Kiley delivered sharp criticism of Governor Gavin Newsom’s lawsuit aimed at restoring federal funding for California’s long-delayed high-speed rail project.

Kiley described the legal effort as “frivolous” and a continuation of what he called the most wasteful public works project in American history.

“The governor is now wasting taxpayer dollars suing, so he is able to continue wasting taxpayer dollars on an epic scale,” Kiley said on the House floor. “This project will go down as the single biggest waste of taxpayer dollars in U.S. history.”

The remarks come after Newsom filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, which previously cancelled more than $4 billion in federal funding designated for the project. The governor claimed the move was an act of “petty, political retribution”, aimed at undermining California’s leadership on climate and infrastructure.

Kiley, a vocal opponent of the high-speed rail, argues the lawsuit is not about justice or transportation, but about preserving a political legacy at the public’s expense.

Despite being over a decade in development and costing billions in state and federal funds, the rail system has yet to produce a functional line. Numerous delays, cost overruns, and revised goals have left the project in limbo—particularly the Central Valley segment, originally pitched as the backbone of the network.

Kiley’s remarks echo growing frustration among Californians and federal lawmakers who view the project as a financial black hole, especially at a time when the state is grappling with budget shortfalls and urgent infrastructure needs.

The lawsuit remains pending, but opposition in Congress is expected to mount as more details about the project’s spending and lack of progress are scrutinized.