California sues Trump administration against high-speed train funds

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – California on Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration in a US court after the US Department of Transportation confirmed the $ 929 million in state funding it was granted. 2010 by the high speed train.

California plans to ask a judge Tuesday to prevent the US Department of Transportation to reallocate this money, announced Tuesday the office of the governor.

The state will argue that the restraint is intended to punish California for opposing the wall proposed by President Donald Trump along the southern border of the United States. The complaint is also named after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao of the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and FRA Chief Ron Batory.

The Trump administration has decided to end funding after California Governor Gavin Newsom announced in February that the state would cut the planned $ 77.3 billion high-speed rail project after cost increases , delays and management problems, but would complete a smaller slice.

Trump repeatedly criticized the project. In a speech last week, Trump said he told Chao "Elaine, it's over for them" about the California project.

This decision marked the latest ongoing battle between the Trump administration and California on a range of issues, including immigration, vehicle emissions standards and Internet policy.

The most populous US state has repeatedly sued the Trump administration, and officials expected the state to continue funding rail.

The US Department of Transportation declined to comment on the lawsuit.

FRA, the US railway regulator, announced last week that it had canceled the funding agreement after stating that the state had not made "reasonable" progress in the project.