Sean Duffy arrives for a meeting with Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer about his nomination to lead the Department of Transportation, Dec. 10, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"So, if you want to go protest somewhere, if you want to go shout at someone, go to the governor's mansion – go talk to Democrats in the legislature who have brought us this crappy project," he added.
Specifically, the secretary wants to investigate if there were any shady business dealings tied with the rail project's failure so far. As of January, the state was touting a small development in the project's Bakersfield section.
"No state in America is closer to launching high-speed rail than California – and today, we just took a massive step forward. We’re moving into the track-laying phase, completing structures for key segments, and laying the groundwork for a high-speed rail network," Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement last month.
"The future of transportation is being realized right here in the Central Valley with thousands of good-paying jobs already created and 171 miles being worked on. As only California can, we’re building America’s biggest infrastructure project," he added.
Federal taxpayers spent almost $3 billion on the project – with another $4 billion promised by, but not already spent, from President Joe Biden. The audit could provide Trump with the legal authority to claw that money back.
Still, there is almost nothing to show for the project, which is projected to cost $106 billion to achieve its final goal of stretching from Los Angeles to San Francisco, according to the Associated Press. Proponents have argued that the rail would make California, one of the nation's largest states, more connected.
TRUMP SUPPORTING CALIFORNIA SHERIFF LAUNCHES REPUBLICAN RUN FOR GOVERNOR IN RACE TO SUCCEED NEWSOM
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Rep. Kevin Kiley (Getty Images)
In addition, Congresswoman Young Kim, R-Calif., argued "it's about time" for accountability on the project.
"We'll see if this investigation leads to finding any fraud and waste. If there is fraud, I know it would probably be in the areas of whether or not the contractors, subcontractors, the designer, the builders, anyone who's involved with the high-speed rail project is somehow involved in this process," she said.
Cameron Arcand is a politics writer at Fox News Digital in Washington D.C. Story tips can be sent to Cameron.Arcand@Fox.com and on Twitter: @cameron_arcand
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-admin-puts-disastrous-high-speed-rail-project-deep-blue-state-on-notice