Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that aimed to boost oversight of California’s High-Speed Rail Authority.

Newsom’s veto comes two weeks after the investigative office released a scathing report in which its auditors found that the high-speed rail authority approved nearly $600,000 in unallowable travel expenses for its consultants. It found they flew first class, took luxury rides and visited a nightclub on taxpayer dollars. 

 The auditing agency was created in 2022 to conduct independent reviews and investigations of the long-delayed bullet train project. But it has never been fully staffed because it doesn’t have the authority to hire the expert staff necessary for audits, said Inspector General Ben Belnap in recent public hearings.

https://calmatters.org/politics/2026/10/newsom-veto-high-speed-rail-oversight/