California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Friday an executive order creating a "strike team" tasked with coordinating the state’s role in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games. The team, headed by deputy chief of staff Jamie Callahan, will bring together more than a dozen state agencies to strengthen readiness, provide workforce and economic opportunities, and oversee security and infrastructure upgrades.
In a statement from the governor’s office, the team will coordinate with local governments, the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee, and federal partners to streamline planning and remove bureaucratic hurdles. Security planning includes joint efforts from the California Office of Emergency Services and, according to the Los Angeles Times, the U.S. Secret Service, which has ultimate security authority over the Games.
The initiative follows legislation Newsom signed in September that bolsters public‑safety coordination for the Olympics. The Games, scheduled for July 14‑30, 2028, will be followed by the Paralympics on Aug. 15‑27, the official Olympic website confirms. In addition to the strike team’s coordinating role, California’s office highlighted infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening transportation networks and modernizing major venues—projects described by state officials as benefits that will last beyond the 2028 event.
Los Angeles Times reported that the 2028 Games are projected to cost 7.2 billion U.S. dollars, with the city responsible for key transportation upgrades. That cost figure has not been cited by other outlets included in this brief.
As the Games draw nearer, the strike team will provide a central hub for communication, helping ensure that all stakeholders—state agencies, local authorities, and the Olympic organizing committee—operate in concert for a seamless event.