California isn't backing down from its ambitious high-speed rail plans, even after losing billions in federal support. Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that the long-debated project connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco has officially begun laying track.

The Project Moves Forward

Newsom's Press Office shared an update on social media platform X, responding to criticism from influencer Nick Sortor. According to the post, the project has created more than 16,400 jobs so far, with over 171 miles currently under design and construction. The state has already completed 60+ structures related to the rail system.

The governor's office emphasized that the project has "regularly passed audits" of its financial management, pointing to finance committee board meetings as evidence. Interestingly, the most recent meeting scheduled for November 20 was cancelled. Despite this, the message was clear: "This loss of federal funding will not derail the project."

Federal Funding Gets Pulled

The defiant tone comes after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy celebrated a California court's decision to dismiss the state's lawsuit against the Trump administration. The administration had withdrawn $4 billion in funding for the project, which Duffy claims will save taxpayer money.

That wasn't the only financial hit. The Trump administration also redirected $2.4 billion originally earmarked for California's rail project into a separate $5 billion fund focused on improving passenger rail infrastructure nationwide.