Filed Date: July 17, 2025
Case Ongoing
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case challenged the Trump Administration's decision to terminate more than $4 billion in federal grant funding for California's high-speed, all-electric railroad program. California had spent over $22 billion of its own money to advance the California High-Speed Rail Authority over the previous fifteen years; the federal government gave about $7 billion to the Authority from 2009 to 2010 and from 2022 to 2025. President Trump purported to cancel the programs funding in 2019, during his first term; that decision was ultimately overridden by the election of President Biden and a subsequent settlement between the federal government and California. In the decade-and-a-half that the Authority has operated, including during the second Trump Administration, the federal government has never alleged wrongdoing or breach on the part of the railroad program or the Authority. Plaintiff alleged that the Administration's termination of the grants violated the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
Plaintiff California High-Speed Rail Authority filed this lawsuit on July 17, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. The lawsuit named the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Secretary, and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and its Acting Administrator, as defendants. Plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief.
This case is currently awaiting assignment to a judge and remains ongoing.
Summary Authors
Matt Petrillo (7/23/2025)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70834344/parties/california-high-speed-rail-authority-v-united-states-department-of/
O'Grady, Sharon Louise (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/70834344/california-high-speed-rail-authority-v-united-states-department-of/
Last updated Aug. 21, 2025, 12:07 p.m.
State / Territory: California
Case Type(s):
Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: July 17, 2025
Case Ongoing: Yes
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
The California High-Speed Rail Authority.
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
U.S. Department of Transportation (- United States (national) -), Federal
The Federal Railroad Administration (- United States (national) -), Federal
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Ex Parte Young (Federal) or Bivens
Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.
Ex parte Young (federal or state officials)
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
General/Misc.: