President Donald Trump wants to withhold billions of dollars of federal funds from California’s high-speed rail project (“Trump wants California to pay back billions for bullet train,” Star-Advertiser, Top News, Feb. 20).

I am sure this is in response to the lawsuit that California filed over the president’s action regarding his proposed funding of the wall he wants built on our southern border.

I also understand that Hawaii has joined California and 14 other states in this lawsuit.

Can Hawaii afford to lose federal funding for our rail here?

Probably not, but if Trump does withhold the federal funds because of this lawsuit, don’t worry, Hawaii: Your local government will just add more taxes for us to pay as it is probably too late to stop this ill-conceived project.

Steve Loring

Waianae

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