Concerns about federal funding for the LA Olympics raised by state lawmakers
SACRAMENTO – As Los Angeles prepares to host the 2028 Olympics, state lawmakers are raising concerns that potential conflicts with President Trump could cause chaos.
State Sen. Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), speaking at a legislative hearing this week on the 2028 Games, expressed concern over Trump’s hostility toward California and questioned whether that could affect the state’s critical financial support for the Olympics.
“I know we rely heavily on federal funding,” Rubio said. “Can you assure me that we won’t be left in the middle of the program carrying the bag?”
Rubio was speaking with Joey Freeman, vice president of state affairs for the LA28 Organizing Committee, who testified before lawmakers.
Freeman assured lawmakers that the planning committee has a “good working relationship” with the Trump administration. He said the committee successfully advocated for $1 billion in federal funding for state and local law enforcement, and $94 million to increase transportation planning.
Leaders of LA28 previously thought that the games will cost more than 7.1 billion dollars. They said the money would come from a mix of sources, including corporate sponsors, ticket sales, merchandise, the federal government and the International Olympic Committee.
Rubio, however, said he remains concerned that federal dollars could fall.
“As a state, our funding is going down, and ultimately we don’t want to step in to save the Olympics,” Rubio said.
Several other concerns were raised during the nearly three-hour hearing, including questions about how to better protect visitors and participants from immigration raids. The Trump administration’s increased enforcement efforts by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the US Border Patrol last year in the Los Angeles area led to clashes with protesters and widespread concerns about immigrant rights.
Sen. Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) said lawmakers were working on a bill package to help strengthen ICE during the event.
“Immigration is still front and center,” he said. “People are very worried that they will continue to be deported and kidnapped.”
Other lawmakers pressed Freeman for more information about ticket sales. LA28 previously advertised tickets as affordable for locals, but many shoppers last month were shocked to find prices in the thousands.
Freeman said he didn’t have specific information about the public ticketing system, which was reprimanded by Sen. Laura Richardson (D-San Pedro).
“He is in the official body of the state and I think he knows that there was a problem because it was announced in the news,” he said. “The issue with us coming to this committee is you don’t know how many tickets were issued, you don’t know how many were under $100 — you don’t have the information we need.”
Paul Krekorian, executive director of the Los Angeles Office of Major Events, discussed many of the concerns surrounding the games and their lack of politics. He pointed to the success of the Los Angeles Olympics in 1932 and 1984.
“You hear that the tickets are very expensive, there will not be enough opportunities, there will be a lot of disruption, there will be traffic jams, the city just went through this terrible fire, how are we going to get this thing out?” he said. “I want to remind all of us – LA knows how to do this.”
