San Joaquin RTD CEO Ousted Amid Funding Clash

Transit agency and mayor at odds over $62M in funding

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The CEO of the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD), Alex Clifford, was fired on Friday after what he described as a coordinated effort by Mayor Christina Fugazi and the San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) to block $62 million in funding for the agency.

Why it matters

The ouster of the RTD CEO highlights ongoing tensions between the transit agency and local political leadership over funding priorities and decision-making authority. This could disrupt service and planning for the regional transit system that many residents rely on.

The details

Clifford said the move by the RTD board to fire him before he had even attended a regular board meeting was "extraordinary." The funding dispute centers around $62 million that the RTD was seeking, which Mayor Fugazi and the SJCOG opposed allocating.

  • Alex Clifford was fired on Friday, February 16, 2026.

The players

Alex Clifford

The former CEO of the San Joaquin Regional Transit District (RTD).

Christina Fugazi

The mayor of San Joaquin who opposed allocating $62 million in funding to the RTD.

San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG)

The regional planning agency that also opposed the $62 million in funding for the RTD.

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What they’re saying

“It’s extraordinary for a relatively new board to take action before having ever sat in on a regular board meeting.”

— Alex Clifford, Former CEO, San Joaquin Regional Transit District

What’s next

The RTD board will need to appoint an interim CEO and begin the process of finding a permanent replacement for Clifford.

The takeaway

This clash over transit funding highlights the political tensions and competing priorities that can arise between local government leaders and regional transit agencies, potentially disrupting service for residents who rely on public transportation.