OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — California this week dismissed a lawsuit officials filed against the Trump administration over the federal government's withdrawing of $4 billion for the state's long-delayed high-speed rail project.
The U.S. Transportation Department in July slashed funds for the bullet train aimed at connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles. The Trump administration has said the California High-Speed Rail Authority had “ no viable plan ” to complete a large segment of project in the state's farm-rich Central Valley.
The authority quickly filed a lawsuit, with Democratic. Gov. Gavin Newsom calling the federal government's decision “a political stunt to punish California.”
The authority said this week it would focus on other funding sources to complete the project estimated to cost more than $100 billion.
“This action reflects the State’s assessment that the federal government is not a reliable, constructive, or trustworthy partner in advancing high-speed rail in California,” an authority spokesperson said in a statement.
The Transportation Department did not respond to a request for comment on California dismissing its lawsuit. President Donald Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy have both previously slammed the project as a “train to nowhere.”
“The Railroad we were promised still does not exist, and never will,” Trump wrote on Truth Social in July. “This project was Severely Overpriced, Overregulated, and NEVER DELIVERED.”
The authority's decision to drop the lawsuit comes as the group seeks private investors to support the bullet train. The project recently secured $1 billion in annual funding from the state's cap-and-trade program through 2045.
The program sets a declining limit on total planet-warming emissions in the state from major polluters. Companies must reduce their emissions, buy allowances from the state or other businesses, or fund projects aimed at offsetting their emissions. Money the state receives from the sales funds climate-change mitigation, affordable housing and transportation projects, as well as utility bill credits for Californians.
The rail authority said its shift in focus away from federal funding offered “a new opportunity.”
“Moving forward without the Trump administration’s involvement allows the Authority to pursue proven global best practices used successfully by modern high-speed rail systems around the world,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
FILE - Carpenters with the California High-Speed Rail Authority work on a parapet and derailment wall at the Hanford Viaduct construction site on April 15, 2025, in Kings County, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
FILE - The Cedar Viaduct, designed to take high-speed trains over Cedar and North avenues and State Route 99, is shown in an aerial view, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Fresno, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chris Oladokun saw in defeat on Thursday night why he thinks the Kansas City Chiefs soon will be winners again.
Patrick Mahomes was out with a knee injury, as was backup Gardner Minshew, forcing Oladokun into his first career start. He was down to his fifth and sixth offensive tackles and without injured wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton.
The defense was just as beat up, missing top cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, who went on injured reserve.
Yet in a season with nothing left to play for, the Chiefs took the Broncos — barreling toward the AFC West title and perhaps the No. 1 seed in the playoffs — down to the wire. It took Bo Nix throwing a touchdown pass in the final minutes, and a defensive stand at the other end, for Denver to escape with a 20-13 victory on Christmas night at Arrowhead Stadium.
“You saw tonight, team in the eyes of many not playing for much, bunch of starters, a bunch of key players out, going on IR, and we battled,” Oladokun said afterward. "We battled tonight versus one of the top teams in the NFL. One of the top defenses. One of the top offenses in the league. And we were there till the end.
“I'm not down on Kansas City,” Oladokun added. “I don't think people should be down on us. Sometimes in life you need a little kick in the butt, and it catapults you into next season. I think that's what is going to happen for us.”
It won't be that easy.
The Chiefs (6-10) had plenty of shortcomings even before a catastrophic wave of late-season injuries, from an inability to rush the passer to a dearth of playmakers in the backfield. They could use upgrades at all three levels of the defense, and they will likely have to find the successor for Travis Kelce, who may announce his retirement after playing 13 seasons in the league.
Then there were the silly mistakes that dogged them all season, and showed up again Thursday night, that coach Andy Reid and his staff will have to fix. The biggest: When the Chiefs held the Broncos at fourth-and-2 inside the 10-yard line in the closing minutes, and they never had any intention of snapping the ball, Chris Jones jumped offside anyway for an automatic first down.
Denver scored the decisive touchdown three plays later, rather than kicking the field goal that coach Sean Payton was expecting.
“We’ve been beating ourselves up this year a lot, especially with critical errors in critical situations. It’s like, I can’t do that,” Jones said, "but this has been happening throughout the year. We’ll get better.”
Indeed, there is a lot of room for improvement before next season kicks off in less than nine months.
But there is reason for optimism, too.
The Chiefs' defense kept them in the game against the Broncos, using a soft zone and making them grind through clock management with long scoring drives. It was a brilliant strategy by defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who showed why he remains among the best in the game, and it was executed well by a defense missing several important players.
The offense needs a whole lot of help, though that comes with the caveat that it was missing a slew of players. Oladokun managed to play reasonably well, given the circumstances, but Kansas City still managed just 139 yards of total offense.
Rookie cornerback Nohl Williams has been picked on a lot this season, and the growing pains have been real. But he showed how much he's progressed on Thursday night, helping to hold Pro Bowl wide receiver Courtland Sutton to four catches for 40 yards, and the Denver offense to 303 yards total — 182 of that through the air.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy dropped a couple of passes, failed to catch a ball in three targets and seemed to underscore what's been a disappointing season for the former first-round pick. That he seems no better than he was as a rookie is alarming.
The Chiefs sustained no new injuries in the game against Denver.
190 — Kelce caught a pass in his 190th consecutive game, and perhaps his last at Arrowhead Stadium. If he catches one in next week's season finale in Las Vegas, he would break a tie with Marvin Harrison for the fourth-longest streak in NFL history. The players with longer streaks are Jerry Rice (274), Larry Fitzgerald (256) and former Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez (211).
The Chiefs visit the Raiders next weekend for their final game of the season.
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Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix, center, pushes through across the goal line to score on a run as Kansas City Chiefs safety Jaden Hicks (21), cornerback Kristian Fulton, second from right, and linebacker Drue Tranquill, right, try to stop him during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) reacts after scoring on a touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs running back Brashard Smith (24) celebrates with wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster after scoring a touchdown against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton (8) breaks up a pass intended for Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Chris Oladokun throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Kansas City. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)
