Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blasted California Gov. Gavin Newsom over a wildlife crossing project that has ballooned tens of millions over budget.
Duffy targeted the unfinished bridge spanning 10 lanes of the 101 Freeway in Southern California, calling it another example of failed infrastructure spending.
“Bridges to nowhere. Trains to nowhere. Leave the building to us @GavinNewsom,” Duffy wrote on X.
The criticism followed a viral video showing the incomplete structure designed to allow animals such as cougars to safely cross the busy highway.
Bridges to nowhere.
Trains to nowhere.Leave the building to us, @GavinNewsom https://t.co/KSUW5tbzix
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 18, 2026
The project, known as the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing, was originally scheduled for completion in 2025.
Its cost estimate has since surged from $92 million to $114 million, with officials now projecting a fall 2026 completion date.
The bridge was inspired by the death of P22, the so-called “Hollywood Lion,” which gained national attention after being photographed near the Hollywood sign before dying from injuries sustained in a vehicle collision.
State officials initially committed tens of millions in taxpayer funding. At the 2022 groundbreaking, Newsom pledged $54 million, later adding another $10 million to support construction.
Funding continued to grow as the project faced delays. In February, the California Transportation Commission approved an additional $18.8 million allocation to finish the crossing.
Private funding also played a role in launching the project. The Annenberg Foundation contributed $25 million in 2021, helping secure early momentum for construction.
Public attention reignited after a viral opinion piece highlighted the cost overruns and delays.
Critics seized on the figures as evidence of mismanagement.
“Beth Pratt is the left-wing activist in charge of building Gavin Newsom’s $114 million cougar and butterfly bridge,” Christopher Rufo wrote on X.
Beth Pratt is the left-wing activist in charge of building Gavin Newsom's $114 million cougar and butterfly bridge. She's turned the bridge into a boondoggle, and now blames Trump for blown deadlines and increased costs. Her bio does not note any previous construction experience. pic.twitter.com/eepoIW4vhd
— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@christopherrufo) March 18, 2026
“She’s turned the bridge into a boondoggle, and now blames Trump for blown deadlines and increased costs. Her bio does not note any previous construction experience.”
Beth Pratt, a National Wildlife Federation leader overseeing the project, pushed back on the criticism.
“The cost increases we experienced are consistent with increases construction projects are facing across the country,” Pratt wrote.
🚨 VENEZUELAN DICTATOR NICOLAS MADURO IN U.S. CUSTODY 🚨 Do you AGREE Trump made America STRONG again??? ➡️➡️➡️ TAKE THE FREEDOM POLL NOW and stand with President Trump!!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
She cited federal data showing highway construction costs have climbed 67% since 2021.
Pratt also rejected claims that the project had veered off course. She pointed to severe weather and record flooding as key factors behind delays. The project, she said, is now “back on track.”
Newsom’s office also defended the rising costs and revised timeline. Officials blamed inflation and federal trade policy for driving up expenses.
“The cost estimate held until last year when inflation — in part driven by TRUMP’s TARIFFS — increased construction costs,” the governor’s office wrote.
MAGA's outrage over a project that literally SAVES LIVES tells you everything!
This freeway project, grounded in decades of research, restores a critical wildlife corridor and reduces DEADLY collisions on one of the busiest highways in the country — protecting both drivers and… https://t.co/FcBeyHIk6P
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 18, 2026
They argued the increase was still below national averages for similar projects. State officials also cited weather disruptions as a cause of delays.
“The timeline shifted by just ONE YEAR largely due to severe weather last year — five years of work is far from a ‘boondoggle,” Newsom’s team posted.
“MAGA’s outrage over a project that literally SAVES LIVES tells you everything!”
Duffy’s criticism extended beyond the wildlife bridge. He linked the project to broader frustrations over California infrastructure spending.
The secretary has repeatedly targeted the state’s high-speed rail project, which has faced years of delays and cost overruns.
Originally pitched as a $40 billion plan connecting Los Angeles to San Francisco in under three hours, the project has ballooned past $100 billion.
Nearly two decades after approval, construction remains incomplete and no track has been laid. The expected completion date has slipped from 2020 to at least 2032.
Newsom has scaled back the original vision, focusing instead on a partial route through the Central Valley.
Duffy has framed the rail effort as another example of wasteful spending.
Gavin’s big reveal… NOTHING‼️
Not a single high-speed track is installed for Gavin Newsom’s TRAIN TO NOWHERE. A monstrous $135 BILLION price tag. And federal taxpayers spent $16 BILLION, for nothing.
Best of luck with your boondoggle @CAgovernor, but federal taxpayers aren’t… https://t.co/LUa3xmJifN
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) February 5, 2026
“Not a single high-speed track is installed for Gavin Newsom’s TRAIN TO NOWHERE,” Duffy wrote in a previous post.
“A monstrous $135 BILLION price tag,” he added, noting that $16 billion came from federal taxpayers.
“President Trump and I made sure” taxpayers would not remain “on the hook,” Duffy said.
The administration has taken action against the project’s federal funding.
The Department of Transportation cut billions in support, prompting a lawsuit from California officials that was later dismissed.
Under @POTUS’s leadership, we are protecting billions of American taxpayers' dollars from funding California’s ridiculous train to nowhere.
A great way to ring in the New Year 🇺🇸 https://t.co/YUtgrv5gN0
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) December 27, 2025
Duffy praised the court’s decision, saying the administration was “protecting billions of American taxpayers’ dollars from funding California’s ridiculous train to nowhere.”
Newsom has continued to defend the rail project. He recently said that more than 463 miles of the planned 494-mile first phase are ready for construction.
He also pointed to job creation, noting the project has generated more than 16,400 positions.
The clash over infrastructure has extended into other policy areas. The Trump administration has also taken legal action against California over emissions standards.
Federal officials argue the state’s electric vehicle requirements violate federal law.
The Department of Transportation said California imposed “an illegal electric vehicle (EV) mandate” through state-specific mileage rules.
Federal authorities maintain that only national standards can govern emissions regulations.
Duffy has aligned closely with President Donald Trump on the issue.
“I was proud to stand alongside President Trump to unveil our plan to eliminate the Biden-Buttigieg EV mandate,” Duffy said in a statement.
He accused Newsom of pushing what he called a “radical EV fantasy.”
The Trump Administration WILL hold California accountable for OUTRAGEOUS attempts to push an ILLEGAL EV mandate onto Americans 🚙⛽️@TheJusticeDept @USDOT@POTUS understands that FREEDOM means AFFORDABLE CARS and @USDOT will DELIVER for the people of this GREAT country 🇺🇸 https://t.co/Gfpi2PTfiT
— Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) March 12, 2026
Duffy also used social media to reinforce the administration’s position.
“The Trump Administration WILL hold California accountable for OUTRAGEOUS attempts to push an ILLEGAL EV mandate onto Americans,” he wrote.
He said the administration would “deliver” on promises to lower vehicle costs.
