Brace yourself, taxpayers: a jaw-dropping report from the Senate DOGE Caucus has exposed federal infrastructure projects bleeding over $162 billion beyond their budgets.
Under the sharp eye of Chairwoman Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, this report lays bare more than a dozen projects drowning in red ink, with delays and cost overruns that could make even the most patient bureaucrat weep, Fox News reported.
Senator Ernst didn’t mince words, declaring, “Going a billion dollars over budget isn’t a rounding error; it’s a financial train wreck.” While her frustration is palpable, one has to wonder if Washington’s addiction to spending will ever meet a detox program tough enough to cure it.
Let’s start with the poster child of fiscal folly: California’s high-speed rail, a project kicked off during the Obama administration with grand promises of modern transit. Now projected to cost $128 billion—$95 billion over budget—it’s become a symbol of government overreach, despite only $7 billion in federal funds approved, half of which remains unspent.
California couldn’t even wait to dot the i’s and cross the t’s before begging for Obama-era stimulus cash, as a 2018 state auditor’s letter pointed out. This rush to spend without planning is exactly the kind of governance that leaves taxpayers holding the bag.
Ernst isn’t letting this slide, noting, “I am thrilled to have worked with the Trump administration to defund the California Crazy Train.” Her push to pull the plug on similar projects is a refreshing dose of accountability, though one wonders if the Golden State will ever learn its lesson.
California isn’t alone in this budgetary quagmire; take Minneapolis, where a 14-mile light rail extension has ballooned to $2.74 billion, earning the dubious title of Minnesota’s priciest public works project ever. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., cheered, “This project will help us get back on our feet.” But at double the original cost, taxpayers might feel more like they’ve been knocked flat.
Over in Honolulu, a rail project is $4.5 billion over budget, needing an extra $9.9 billion to finish—nearly half of Hawaii’s average annual budget. Reports suggest it’s sometimes slower than rush hour traffic, which begs the question: why are we funding a turtle when we need a hare?
Closer to the mainland, San Francisco’s Caltrain extension, a mere two miles, is set to cost $8 billion, potentially making it the priciest per-distance project globally. It’s meant to link up with the state’s high-speed rail dreams, but at this price, one might as well pave the tracks with gold.
On the East Coast, a New Jersey interchange project tying together the “42 Freeway,” Interstate 295, and the Walt Whitman Bridge has lagged years behind schedule since starting in 2013, despite over $1 billion in federal funds. Meanwhile, Maryland’s Purple Line commuter rail, backed by billions in federal money, stumbles through political squabbles and other hurdles.
In the heartland, Iowa’s own convergence of Interstate 80 and 29 in Council Bluffs made the report for its tardiness, proving even smaller projects can’t escape the curse of delay. It’s a frustrating reminder that inefficiency knows no geographic bounds.
Back in Silicon Valley, a BART extension near San Jose airport aims to connect tech hubs but hit a snag when Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., tried to slip a hefty earmark into a COVID-19 relief bill, only to be blocked by the Senate Parliamentarian. Pelosi argued, “This is about saving the planet.” Yet, when relief funds are diverted to pet projects, it’s hard to see the environmental win over the fiscal loss.
Senator Ernst, alongside Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, is fighting back with the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act, slated for a committee vote soon, which would force federal agencies to report on projects wildly over budget or behind schedule. DOT Secretary Sean Duffy backed her up, stating, “If you're receiving taxpayer dollars, you should expect to be held accountable.” It’s a sentiment long overdue in a town that often treats taxpayer money like Monopoly cash.
Ernst also suggested, “Including just five of these off the rails projects in a future rescissions package would save taxpayers billions.” Her focus on clawing back funds is a lifeline for those tired of watching hard-earned dollars vanish into bureaucratic black holes.
As Duffy aptly put it, “No more boondoggles.” With over $162.9 billion in overruns as a starting point—and likely more to come—Ernst’s crusade for fiscal sanity is a battle worth watching, even if Washington’s spendthrift ways are a tough habit to break.
