Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.
The CEO of California’s high-speed rail authority resigned on Oct. 28, citing “important and personal family priorities,” Cal Matters reports. Under Ian Choudri, the authority misused $600,000 in taxpayer dollars, spending the money on first class flights and rides to nightclubs, “sometimes at Choudri’s request,” Yue Stella Yu writes for Cal Matters.
Choudri’s resignation took effect immediately. Joe Stephenshaw, who led California’s Department of Finance for just over four years, will replace him.
“Under Choudri, the authority also lost $4 billion in federal funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, after the agency repeatedly missed deadlines required by the funding agreement to buy trains. The state initially sued Trump for the funding but abruptly dropped the lawsuit in December 2025, blaming Trump as “not a reliable partner” and turning to private investors instead,” Cal Matters reports.
Read the full story: Head of California high-speed rail agency resigns amid travel expenses scandal
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