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Secretary Chao heeded the Republican letter's arguments, and deferred the grant in a letter written by FTA Executive Director Matthew Welbes to Caltrain which stated the FTA needed "additional time to complete review of this significant commitment of Federal resources".<ref name="contractextension"/><ref name=SMDJ-170218>{{cite news |url=http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2017-02-18/electrification-funds-in-peril-federal-transit-administration-delays-647-million-caltrain-decision/1776425176103.html |title=Electrification funds in peril: Federal Transit Administration delays $647 million Caltrain decision |author=Weigel, Samantha |date=18 February 2017 |newspaper=San Mateo Daily Journal |accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref><ref name=SFC-170217>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/matier-ross/article/Trump-administration-deals-a-big-setback-to-10941880.php |title=Trump administration deals a big setback to Caltrain |author1=Matier, Phil |author2=Ross, Andrew |date=17 February 2017 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Caltrain had expected Secretary Chao to approve the grant and sign the FFGA by March 1, which is normally a ''[[pro forma]]'' step performed after the 30-day comment period for a highly-rated project, and had already awarded construction contracts.<ref name="contractextension"/><ref name="SV">{{citeweb|url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/03/24/trump-chao-get-an-earful-on-caltrain-funds/|title=Trump, Chao get an earful on Caltrain funds from Silicon Valley leaders|publisher=''East Bay Times''|author=Richards, Gary|date=March 24, 2017|accessdate=March 29, 2017}}</ref> [[Balfour Beatty Construction]] and [[Stadler Rail]] had already begun preparations to upgrade the existing tracks and build electrical trainsets, respectively. Caltrain negotiated an emergency four-month contract extension at a potential cost of $20 million.<ref name="contractextension"/><ref name=SFC-170227>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Caltrain-acts-to-keep-electrification-plan-alive-10964012.php |title=Caltrain acts to keep electrification plan alive |author=Cabanatuan, Michael |date=27 February 2017 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref><ref name=BCNC-170227>{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/bayarea/article/Contractors-Agree-To-3-Month-Deadline-Extension-10963828.php |title=Contractors Agree To 3-Month Deadline Extension With Caltrain On Electrification Project |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=27 February 2017 |newspaper=Bay City News Service |accessdate=25 March 2017}}</ref> Under the preliminary budget proposal released in mid-March 2017, the [[United States Department of Transportation]]'s Capital Investment Grant Program would be eliminated, although projects holding a completed FFGA would continue to be funded.<ref name=SFC-170317 /> Since Secretary Chao had withheld approval of the FFGA for PCEP,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.transit.dot.gov/funding/grant-programs/capital-investments/current-capital-investment-grant-cig-projects |title=Current Capital Investment Grant (CIG) Projects |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2017 |publisher=Federal Transit Administration |accessdate=4 April 2017}}</ref> the project's future was questionable.<ref name=SFC-170317 />
In response to the grant deferral, various local officials traveled to [[Washington D.C.]] in order to lobby federal officials to release the money. Editorials in local newspapers urged approval of the grant, including the ''Sacramento Bee'', who called the deferral "a petty attack";<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/editorials/article140446843.html |title=House Republicans launch a petty attack on a smart rail project |author=Editorial Board |date=24 March 2017 |newspaper=Sacramento Bee |accessdate=28 March 2017}}</ref> and the ''East Bay Times'', a noted CHSRA detractor.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.eastbaytimes.com/2017/02/24/editorial-feds-should-electrify-caltrain-kill-bullet-train/ |title=Editorial: Feds should electrify Caltrain, kill bullet train |author=Editorial Board |date=24 February 2017 |newspaper=East Bay Times |accessdate=28 March 2017}}</ref> Henry Grabar noted the grant deferral could be "an early test of a simmering fear that the state's outspoken political opposition to the Trump administration might come with a price".<ref name=
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