In brief
California Governor Gavin Newsom has ordered the creation of a state strike team to oversee preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The team, led by deputy chief of staff Jamie Callahan, will bring together more than a dozen agencies to coordinate planning, workforce development, and security. The initiative is part of California’s effort to leave lasting improvements for residents while supporting the 7.2 billion‑dollar event.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order on Friday that creates a state coordination group called a “strike team” to oversee all work for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Jamie Callahan, Newsom’s deputy chief of staff and senior counselor on infrastructure, will serve as the team’s executive director. More than a dozen state agencies will be pulled into the group to strengthen planning, create jobs and economic benefits, and coordinate security and infrastructure upgrades.
The team will help break down bureaucratic hurdles and make sure state agencies, local governments, and the Los Angeles 2028 organizing committee, LA28, work together. While the Games are projected to cost $7.2 billion, the city is responsible for upgrading transportation to accommodate the influx of visitors.
California has already invested in the region’s transport networks and modernized major venues, stressing that these projects will benefit residents even after the Games conclude.
Security planning is another focus. The California Office of Emergency Services will help coordinate police support from across the state and the western United States, while the U.S. Secret Service holds ultimate security authority, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Newsom said, in a statement for the executive order, that "California knows how to deliver on the world stage. With the Olympics and Paralympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, we’re making sure our state is ready to meet the moment."
"California knows how to deliver on the world stage. With the Olympics and Paralympics coming to Los Angeles in 2028, we’re making sure our state is ready to meet the moment."
The Los Angeles Games will run from July 14–30, 2028, followed by the Paralympics from August 15–27. Los Angeles previously hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984.
