Trump Administration Reportedly Preparing Significant Cuts To State’s Federal Funding

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The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to cancel a large chunk of federal funding for California.

According to CNN, federal agencies are identifying grants to withhold from the state.

Federal grant funding for the University of California and California State University systems is one specific item reportedly on the chopping block.

Per CNN:

Singling out one state for massive cuts would be an unusual move, but President Donald Trump has long made Democratic-led California a target.

Just last month, he threatened to withhold federal funding from California over a transgender athlete’s participation in a sporting event — the latest example of the president trying to use funding as leverage to enact his agenda. The administration recently cut $126.4 million in flood prevention funding projects, and Trump repeatedly went after the state’s handling of devastating wildfires earlier this year. The president and California Gov. Gavin Newsom have also publicly feuded for years.

Two sources said that the administration is targeting California universities over alleged antisemitism on campus, an issue the schools have made efforts to address over the past year. The administration has already taken steps to punish Harvard and Columbia universities for similar reasons.

The UC system is the state’s third largest employer, and both systems are major engines of research in the biotechnology and medical fields, among others.

The White House said no final decision has been made.

President Trump previously said that California will receive “large scale fines” for allowing a biological male to compete against females.

“A Biological Male competed in California Girls State Finals, WINNING BIG, despite the fact that they were warned by me not to do so. As Governor Gavin Newscum fully understands, large scale fines will be imposed!!!” Trump said.

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California may also be on the hook for billions of dollars for its tumultuous high-speed rail project to nowhere.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said California’s high-speed rail project is in default of its federal grant awards totaling $4 billion.

Duffy said there’s “no viable path” to complete the project on time or within budget.

“California is on notice — If they can’t deliver on their end of the deal, it could soon be time for these funds to flow to other projects that can achieve @POTUS’ vision of building great, big, beautiful things again,” Duffy said.

CBS News reports:

The initial proposal was for the project to be completed by 2020 for $33 billion. However, costs for just the first segment of the project – a 171-mile section from Merced to Bakersfield in the Central Valley – have ballooned to $35 billion, with a goal to begin service by the end of 2030, according to the CHSRA.

“What started as a proposed 800-mile system was first reduced to 500 miles, then became a 171-mile segment, and is now very likely ended as a 119-mile track to nowhere,” said Feeley. “In essence, CHSRA has conned the taxpayer out of its $4 billion investment, with no viable plan to deliver even that partial segment on time.”

It has been estimated that another $100 billion will be needed to complete the route from Los Angeles to San Francisco. In February, U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy ordered the review of the project, long targeted by Republican lawmakers and President Donald Trump, to determine whether to commit $4 billion promised by the Biden administration.

Mr. Trump also targeted the project in his first term, halting about $1 billion in federal funding that the Biden administration later restored and increased.

Duffy called the project a “boondoggle” in a statement Wednesday, saying the administration would pull the $4 billion it authorized for the project unless the CHSRA can prove within 37 days that the project is still viable.



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