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Californias House Republicans have asked the Trump administration to block a pending federal grant that will ultimately support the states high speed rail project until an audit of the projects finances is completed.

The letter, signed by all 14 members of the states GOP delegation, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, was sent to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Itcites cost increases, reductions in the projects scope and its failure to attract private financing.

Dated Jan. 24, the letter asks Chao to stop approval of a $650-million grant that the Transportation Department could make to the Bay Areas Caltrain commuter rail agency as early as next week aspart of an effort to install an electrical system. The bullet train would eventually use the same line from San Jose to San Francisco.

This latesteffort to at least temporarily derail the multibillion-dollar project comes at a particularly tense political moment.

President Trump on Sunday told a Fox News hostthatCalifornia in many ways is out of control and has vowed to cut funds to the state over immigration issues. But he has also said he will massively increase the nations infrastructure spending.

Trumps and Chaos view on the bullet train, the nations largest infrastructure project, is largely unknown. The unified position against further federal funding by the states own Republican representatives will be an early test of the new administrations direction.

California Democrats quickly countered the Republicans letter with one of their own, asking that the grant be approved, and charging that the Republicans letter misstated the fact that the grant was being sought by the rail authority, rather than the Caltrain joint powers board.

A spokesman for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) issued a statement Monday, saying the Republicans letter was rife with inaccuracies and innuendo and arguing that blocking the train would cost California thousands of jobs and make commutingbetween San Francisco and Silicon Valley, dirtier, slower and more crowded.

Rep. Jim Costa (D-Fresno), an early and staunch supporter, called the idea that the project is a waste of tax money false, adding: The positive impacts of High Speed Rail construction can be seen in my district and throughout the Central Valley.

The rail authority did not respond to a request for comment.

If the administration cuts off related money for thebullet train and attempts to enforce stricter controls on existing multibillion-dollar grants, it could cause significant stress on a project that is already facing increasing costs and schedule delays.

Ultimately, California may have no other choice than to increase its commitment of state tax money to Gov. Jerry Browns signature project, even as the statefaces a projected budget deficit.

The letter notes that the original cost of the bullet train was estimated about $33 billion for a system that would run from San Diego to Sacramento. Since then the cost has risen to $64 billion, while the scope of the project has been sharply curtailed.

It also cites a risk analysisby the Federal Railroad Administration projected a potential $3.5-billion increase in cost forthe first segment of the project from Merced to Shafter. The analysis was made public last month by The Times.

The GOP congressionalletter, which was obtained by The Times, says providing additional funding at this time to the authority would be an irresponsible use of taxpayers dollars. In light of the new revelations from the confidential FRA report, we request no further monies be granted to the [California High-Speed Rail] Authority or the state of California for high speed rail until a full and complete audit of the project and its finances can be conducted and those finding be presented to the public.

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), chairman of the House rail subcommittee, has said repeatedly that serious problems in the project were not made public by the Obama Administration and has vowed to stop any future federal funding for a project that he had branded as a fiasco.

The Republican letter did not specify who would conduct the requestedaudit, but House staffers said it could be the Transportation Department inspector general or the Government Accountability Office. Such wide-ranging audits often take many months and once completed could be subject to congressional review or hearings that would take additional time.

The grant in questionis a key part of the $2-billion electrification project, which would convert Caltrains system from diesel locomotives to electric-powered cars. It was put into motion in the Obama Administrations closing days.

It requiresa 30-day notice to key members of Congress before it canbe approved. Thatwindow closes Feb. 17.

If the grant is not funded some time this month, it would have potentially devastating effects on the Caltrains electrification project, said Seamus Murphy, the rail systems chief communications officer.

The rail system, operated by a joint powers agency on the Peninsula, already has signed contracts that pledge to give a formal notice to begin work by March 1. If the agencyfails to provide that notice, it could incur penalties so severe that we might not be able to do the project, Murphy said.

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California Republicans ask Trump administration to block bullet train ... - Los Angeles Times