Federal infrastructure spending is under fire as a new Senate DOGE Caucus report reveals that over a dozen major projects are costing taxpayers at least $162 billion more than initially projected. The findings have sparked sharp criticism from lawmakers who describe the financial mismanagement as ‘a financial train wreck.’
Senate DOGE Caucus Chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, has led the investigation, citing her role in the Trump administration’s efforts to defund California’s high-speed rail project, which remains one of the most expensive infrastructure boondoggles in US history. The report includes data from California’s 800-mile high-speed rail system, which has ballooned from an initial $7 billion estimate to a projected $128 billion cost — an overrun of $95 billion.
The report also highlights a troubled light rail extension in Minneapolis, which has more than doubled its price tag to $2.74 billion and is currently over budget and years behind schedule. The project has faced criticism from lawmakers who argue it’s a misallocation of taxpayer funds, even as its defenders claim it’s essential for neighborhood revitalization.
Other projects highlighted in the report include a $9.9 billion Honolulu rail line that is expected to cost half of Hawaii’s state budget annually to complete and the controversial ‘Silicon Valley BART Extension’ project in California, which saw an attempt by Rep. Nancy Pelosi to secure a nine-figure earmark in the 2020 relief bill.
Ernst and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks have introduced the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, which requires federal agencies to report on projects that are either over budget or severely delayed. The reform aims to ensure better fiscal oversight and prevent further taxpayer losses.