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Authority briefed on litigation blocking controversial federal grant conditions; FRA notifies state high‑speed rail of potential fund termination
Summary
Staff said a federal court has preliminarily enjoined certain grant conditions tied to diversity, equity and immigration enforcement while the Federal Railroad Administration has notified the California High‑Speed Rail Authority of intent to terminate multibillion-dollar grants.
During the executive director's report, staff told commissioners the authority and city are participants in litigation seeking to block certain federal grant conditions tied to diversity, equity and immigration enforcement.
Maria Lombardo, presenting for Director Chang, said the authority and several other entities joined litigation described in the transcript as "King County versus v. Turner" seeking to protect current and prospective federal funds from conditions that would make those funds contingent on specific policy terms. Lombardo said a federal district court in Washington state granted a preliminary injunction against imposing those terms, allowing the authority to execute grant agreements and amendments while the injunction remains in place.
Why it matters: the injunction affects whether local agencies can accept federal grants containing the challenged conditions.
Lombardo also briefed the board on a separate federal action: she said the Federal Railroad Administration had notified the California High‑Speed Rail Authority of its intent to terminate more than $3,000,000,000 in federal funds awarded in 2022 and roughly $900,000,000 in funds awarded in 2010 for the high‑speed rail initial operating segment in the Central Valley. Lombardo said the High‑Speed Rail Authority had filed a rebuttal and was pursuing formal dispute procedures.
Lombardo framed both items as ongoing legal and administrative processes; she said the authority and the city attorney's office will keep the board apprised. No board action was requested at the meeting.
The board received no public comment on the report.
