Professional golfer Phil Mickelson publicly criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom for filing a lawsuit against President Donald Trump concerning the withholding of federal funds designated for electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. Mickelson mocked Newsom’s stance by highlighting California’s delayed high-speed rail project.
On May 7, 2025, Newsom announced that California, along with 16 other states and the District of Columbia, filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration. The suit alleges that the administration unlawfully withheld over $300 million in federal funds allocated to California under the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure program, part of the 2022 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These funds were intended to support the construction of more than one million EV charging stations across the state.
In response, Mickelson took to social media platform X, posting: “Stay after it governor. Show him what a great high speed railway system we have and I’m sure he’ll change his mind.”
Mickelson’s comment references California’s high-speed rail project, which has faced significant delays and cost overruns since its approval by voters in 2008. Originally projected to cost $33 billion and be operational by 2020, the project’s estimated cost has ballooned to $128 billion, with completion now expected in the early 2030s.
The lawsuit filed by California and its co-plaintiffs argues that the Trump administration’s actions violate federal law by withholding funds already approved by Congress. The states seek a court order to compel the federal government to release the allocated funds for EV infrastructure development.
This public exchange underscores ongoing tensions between state and federal authorities over environmental policy and infrastructure funding.
