California High-Speed Rail Consultants Accused of $600,000 in Unallowable Expenses
An investigation by the Inspector General revealed that California High-Speed Rail consultants incurred nearly $600,000 in unallowable travel expenses over a two-year period. These expenses included first-class flights, trips to bars, a nightclub, gyms, and an escape room, often reimbursed…
San Francisco Oakland San Jose, CA, September 16, 2026 —
Consultants working on California’s High-Speed Rail project are facing scrutiny over nearly $600,000 in expenses deemed unallowable by an Inspector General’s investigation. The report, covering a two-year period, details expenditures that included first-class flights and costs associated with visits to bars, a nightclub, gyms, and an escape room.
According to the findings, these expenses were frequently reimbursed without adequate justification or the necessary approval processes being followed. The investigation concluded that these practices represent a significant waste of taxpayer funds designated for the high-speed rail initiative. Specific details regarding the names of the consultants, the companies involved, or the precise timeline within the two-year period were not provided in the summary of the investigation’s findings.
The report highlights a pattern where reimbursements were processed despite a lack of clear documentation or authorization, raising questions about oversight and accountability for expenditures related to the project. The scope of the unallowable travel expenses suggests a broader issue with expense reporting and approval protocols for consultants engaged by the High-Speed Rail Authority. The exact actions taken or recommended following the discovery of these unallowable expenses, beyond the identification of waste, were not specified.
Story summarized from the original created by Steph Rodriguez on ww2.kqed.org, see more information here.
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