Merced, CA (February 19, 2026) — Ian Choudri, Chief Executive Officer of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, is on a temporary leave of absence following a February 4, 2026 arrest in Folsom on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery.

According to the Folsom Police Department, Ian Choudri was arrested on February 4, 2026, on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery following a reported disturbance at a residence. Authorities have not publicly released specific details about the circumstances of the incident. The Sacramento County District Attorney’s Office later declined to file charges, citing insufficient evidence and no observed injuries. Law enforcement has stated that further details have not been disclosed due to privacy considerations.

Following the arrest, the California High-Speed Rail Authority announced that Choudri agreed to take a voluntary leave while the agency’s Board of Directors and the California State Transportation Agency assess the situation. No permanent replacement has been named. Mark Tollefson, the authority’s Chief of Staff, is assisting with day-to-day operations during Choudri’s absence.

Choudri was appointed CEO in August 2024, succeeding Brian Kelly, who retired after leading the agency through several years of construction expansion in the Central Valley.

The leadership development comes as construction continues on the project’s Initial Operating Segment, planned to run between Merced and Bakersfield. That Central Valley segment is currently the most active portion of the statewide rail buildout. Merced is designated as the northern anchor of the first planned operational stretch of high-speed service.

The broader high-speed rail project was approved by voters in 2008 and is intended to eventually connect San Francisco and Los Angeles through the Central Valley. Cost estimates and timelines have shifted over the years, but state officials maintain that construction on the Merced-to-Bakersfield segment is ongoing.

The High-Speed Rail Authority has not announced further leadership changes at this time.