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IG Warns California High-Speed Rail Faces 2027 Funding Crisis

8/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Inspector General Benjamin Belnap warned California’s High-Speed Rail could run out of money by December 2027.
The Authority needs to borrow $9.5 billion and incur $3.6-$6.6 billion in interest not included in its cost estimate.
Costs range from $36 billion for the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment to $126-$231 billion for the full line.
Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo and State Senator Tony Strickland called the project wasteful and urged a pull-the-plug.
They said the Authority lacks a funding source and state money.

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Story summary

Inspector General Benjamin Belnap warned California’s High-Speed Rail could run out of money by December 2027.
The Authority needs to borrow $9.5 billion and incur $3.6-$6.6 billion in interest not included in its cost estimate.
Costs range from $36 billion for the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment to $126-$231 billion for the full line.
Assemblymember Alexandra Macedo and State Senator Tony Strickland called the project wasteful and urged a pull-the-plug.
They said the Authority lacks a funding source and state money.