加州高铁董事会收回首席执行官合同签署权：2500万美元以下合同须经内部律师审核
2026年10月9日，加州高速铁路局董事会在萨克拉门托召开特别会议，以7票对2票通过决议，收回首席执行官 Ian Choudri 单独签署与管理2500万美元以下合同的权力：今后管理局新签合同与现有合同的任何变更，都必须先经内部律师审核。2500万美元以上的合同原本就必须由董事会表决通过。
这次表决是对9月15日监察长差旅调查报告的直接回应。报告查出四家顾问公司68.05万美元差旅费未获事先批准，并有前往健身房、夜总会、雪茄吧等场所的不合规报销。董事会主席 Steve Kawa 在会后表示，他召集这次特别会议，就是要表明董事会「不会忽视、也不会掩盖影响本机构与加州民众的问题」，这次决定为合同管理「增加了额外的眼睛、耳朵与权力」。
管理局首席财务官 Jamey Matalka 在会上汇报，管理局已暂停向涉事四家顾问公司支付一切差旅款项，正在逐项复核它们的报销申请，并已对员工、高管与顾问开展差旅政策培训；管理局将追讨全部有问题的差旅款项。
Choudri 在会上表示，管理局已对部分顾问采取纪律措施，并称若系统确有问题，他将「承担全部责任并予以修复」。会议期间，举报人向媒体提供的报销记录显示，有顾问多次乘车往返 Choudri 在福尔瑟姆（Folsom）的住宅所在街道，部分行程发生在凌晨1点过后；Choudri 会后没有回答记者的提问。
管理局发言人 Daniela Contreras 表示：「只有事先获得批准、在合同范围内且符合州规定的差旅，才有资格报销。」
关联：加州高铁监察长报告：68.05万美元顾问差旅未获事先批准，不合规支出含健身房、夜总会与雪茄吧
关联：加州高铁管理局首席执行官辞职：Choudri 递交辞职信，财政厅长 Stephenshaw 任临时首席执行官
关联：加州高铁监察长审查2026年商业计划：成本估算不可比，资金最快2027年12月耗尽
关联：加州「烂尾账本」走红华人社群：高铁、911、无家可归者拨款，逐项对照官方记录
关联：中美基建类比：高铁、大桥、调水三组同类项目，花销、工期、质量对照
来源：加州高速铁路局董事会2026年10月9日特别会议；CalMatters 报道。
California High-Speed Rail Board Strips CEO of Contract Authority: Contracts Under $25 Million Now Require In-House Legal Review
On October 9, 2026, the Board of Directors of the California High-Speed Rail Authority voted 7-2 at a special meeting in Sacramento to strip Chief Executive Officer Ian Choudri of his sole authority to sign and manage contracts under $25 million: from now on, the Authority's in-house attorneys must approve or change any new or existing contracts. Contracts above $25 million already require a vote of the Board.
The vote was a direct response to the inspector general's September 15 investigation report, which found $680,500 in consultant travel that had not been approved in advance and unallowable reimbursements for trips to gyms, a nightclub, cigar lounges and other questionable destinations. Board Chair Steve Kawa told reporters he had called the special meeting to demonstrate "that we are not going to ignore, and we're not going to sweep under the rug, issues that are affecting this organization and impacting the people of California," and that the decision "adds additional eyes and ears and authority" over contracting.
Chief Financial Officer Jamey Matalka told the Board that the Authority has paused all travel payments to the four consulting firms in question, is reviewing their claims, and has begun training staff, executives and consultants on travel policies. The agency is seeking to recoup all questionable travel payments, he said.
Choudri told board members the agency has taken disciplinary actions against some consultants and said he would "take full responsibility and accountability to fix if there was something broken in the system." During the meeting, expense records provided by whistleblowers to the media showed consultants billing for rides to and from the street in Folsom where Choudri owns a home, some of them after 1 a.m. Choudri left the meeting without answering reporters' questions.
Authority spokesperson Daniela Contreras said: "Only travel that is pre-approved, within contract scope and consistent with state regulations will be eligible for reimbursement."
Source: California High-Speed Rail Authority Board of Directors special meeting, October 9, 2026; CalMatters reporting.
来源：GSM·美国（原文链接）
图片来源：图：弗雷斯诺河高架桥航拍（加州高速铁路局图）。Aerial view of the Fresno River Viaduct. (California High-Speed Rail Authority)
