California Rail Board Strips CEO of Contract Power After Audit Reveals $600K in Improper Travel
The California High-Speed Rail Authority board voted 7-2 to remove CEO Ian Choudri’s sole authority to sign contracts under $25 million, requiring in-house legal approval for all agreements. This follows an inspector general audit revealing that four consulting firms billed the agency approximately $600,000 to $700,000 for improper travel expenses, including first-class flights, luxury rides, and visits to bars and nightclubs between 2024 and 2026. The board also paused travel payments to the firms and ordered a review of all claims, while Choudri faced calls for his resignation from state legislators.