OAKLAND, Calif. (FlashPoint) — California has officially dropped its lawsuit against the Trump administration over the latter's withdrawal of $4 billion meant for the state's long-delayed high-speed rail project aimed at connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles. The U.S. Transportation Department had accused the California High-Speed Rail Authority of lacking a viable plan to complete critical segments of the railway, particularly in the agricultural Central Valley. In response to the funds being cut, which Governor Gavin Newsom described as a political maneuver against California, the rail authority quickly filed a lawsuit but has now opted to pivot towards seeking alternative funding sources. The project is projected to cost over $100 billion, and officials believe they will find new investment opportunities outside federal support. The rail authority stated, '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.' The authority's decision to drop the lawsuit may enable it to implement innovative practices modeled after successful high-speed rail systems globally. The Transportation Department, along with President Trump and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, previously criticized the bullet train project as being overregulated and overpriced, dubbing it a 'train to nowhere.' Currently, the project has secured an annual funding of $1 billion until 2045 from the state’s cap-and-trade program, which aims to mitigate climate change and fund various projects throughout the state.