California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO Ian Choudri Resigns

Ian Choudri, CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority since 2024, resigned late Wednesday, citing personal and family priorities.

His departure comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the long-delayed project. An inspector general investigation recently found nearly $600,000 in questionable consultant travel expenses, including first-class flights and trips to a nightclub, cigar lounge, and other locations. Earlier this month, the board stripped Choudri of sole authority over contracts under $25 million. Under his tenure, the project also lost $4 billion in federal funding after missing deadlines to purchase trains.

Voters approved the system in 2008 with an original cost estimate of about $45 billion for a San Francisco-to-Los Angeles line by 2020. Current estimates range from $126 billion to $231 billion, with construction focused on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment. The failed High Speed Rail hasn't laid one mile of track in 20 years, and has become the punchline of national jokes.

Assembly Republican Leader Alexandra M. Macedo (R-Tulare), a longtime critic of the project, issued the following statement:

“The High-Speed Rail project continues to be a black hole for taxpayers.

“While a change in leadership alone will not fix the fundamental flaws of the project – starting with the absurdity of its very existence and its ongoing drain on vital public resources – the governing Board and interim CEO must institute rigorous oversight and demand more transparency moving forward.

“The Board must start by ensuring Mr. Choudri is not allowed to transition into a highly paid private consultant for the project at the public’s expense.”

Macedo had previously called for Choudri’s removal over the travel expenses and other issues. It is unclear when his last day will be or who will succeed him.