New executive order aims to tighten federal coordination on Olympic security, logistics, and international diplomacy
President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order Tuesday creating a federal Olympics task force at the White House, a move that marks the most direct federal involvement in planning for the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The task force will be responsible for coordinating federal efforts around security, infrastructure, transportation, and diplomatic matters linked to the global sporting event. LA28 organizing committee chair Casey Wasserman will join Trump for the signing ceremony at the White House, sources close to the planning told NBC4.
Not just about sports: Washington muscles into LA28 prep
Though LA’s Olympic dreams have been simmering for years, this is the first clear step from the White House to put muscle behind the preparations.
While local and state officials have been managing the buildup so far, Trump’s executive order shifts some of the oversight — and political heat — to Washington. That’s no small deal.
“Bringing the Olympics to LA is about more than sports,” a senior White House official said Monday evening, speaking on condition of anonymity. “It’s a diplomatic, logistical, and security priority for the United States — and we need to treat it as such.”
Wasserman backs the move, but quietly
Casey Wasserman, the media executive turned Olympics chief, didn’t mince words in backing Trump’s move. He called the creation of the federal task force “an important step,” though stopped short of diving into specifics.
His statement was diplomatic, careful, brief — likely by design.
It’s been a tricky balancing act for Wasserman. LA28 has been largely nonpartisan until now, even as funding tensions with federal agencies have simmered in the background. Still, the announcement likely gives the LA28 committee new leverage in unlocking federal dollars and fast-tracking critical permits.
What will the task force actually do?
So far, the exact structure of the new task force hasn’t been publicly detailed. But based on similar efforts around Salt Lake 2002 and Atlanta 1996, we can expect it to coordinate across departments like Homeland Security, State, Justice, Transportation, and the Department of Defense.
Key functions are expected to include:
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Overseeing national security strategy for the Games, including potential terrorism threats
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Facilitating visa and customs coordination for thousands of international athletes and delegates
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Accelerating infrastructure approvals tied to transit, telecom, and federal land use
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Supporting coordination between federal agencies and local California authorities
“Think of it as a hub,” one former Olympic planning consultant said. “A place to plug in every agency that touches something Olympic-related — and there are dozens.”
Why now? Trump’s political timing is raising eyebrows
Some critics see the timing of the executive order — just under three months before the presidential election — as strategic. Trump’s campaign is eager to showcase a vision of strength, order, and international influence. The Olympics are a perfect political backdrop.
“The visuals of LA2028 are golden for Trump,” said Maria Salazar, a political analyst at UCLA. “He’s inserting himself into an event that already carries global prestige and tying it to homeland security. It’s smart politics, even if it’s a bit opportunistic.”
Still, the White House denies any political calculus. Officials insist the timing is simply aligned with LA28’s project timeline and inter-agency coordination deadlines.
Homeland Security is already quietly moving
Even before the executive order, the Department of Homeland Security had begun internal reviews of Olympics-related logistics, according to a memo reviewed by Bloomberg. That memo, dated July 10, outlines initial preparations for “event security modeling and coordination protocol development” specific to the LA metro area.
A few highlights from the DHS memo:
| Area of Focus | Description |
|---|---|
| Counterterrorism Planning | Risk modeling across transport and venue clusters |
| Cybersecurity | Protection for digital infrastructure and broadcasts |
| Border Coordination | Visa facilitation for athletes and foreign staff |
| Public Health | Readiness for outbreaks or mass-casualty scenarios |
One DHS official said the White House task force will serve as a “top-down accelerator” to unify these strands.
Los Angeles officials caught off guard — but cautiously optimistic
Inside City Hall, there was some surprise at the timing of Trump’s announcement. LA Mayor Karen Bass was reportedly not briefed in advance. However, her office released a short statement welcoming federal support for the Games.
“We look forward to working with the task force and ensuring LA28 is safe, successful, and inclusive,” it read.
Behind the scenes, some city officials are watching the move warily. They worry that Trump’s involvement could politicize Olympic planning, especially around immigration, policing, or protest response.
Still, no one is turning down extra resources.
International Olympic Committee watching closely
The International Olympic Committee has not commented publicly on the White House task force yet, but IOC members have been quietly pushing for more federal visibility from Washington for months. The scale of the Olympics — nearly 10,500 athletes from over 200 countries — demands deep coordination, especially on border and health matters.
One IOC source, who requested anonymity to discuss internal matters, said the task force is “a relief.”
“Frankly, it was overdue,” the official said. “Every successful host city since 2000 has had a strong federal backstop.”
