Saving College Sports

The order seeks national guardrails for athlete compensation, scholarships, and roster decisions while distinguishing college athletics from professional sports. It directs agencies to use funding, civil-rights enforcement, labor policy, antitrust positions, and litigation to carry out that policy.

What the order does ​

• Calls on athletic departments with more than $125 million in annual revenue to expand non-revenue-sport scholarships and maximize permitted roster spots.
• Calls on departments with more than $50 million in revenue to maintain non-revenue-sport scholarships and maximize permitted roster spots.
• Directs smaller departments not to disproportionately cut teams, scholarships, or roster spots based on a sport’s revenue.
• Requires federal policy on university revenue sharing to preserve or expand women’s and non-revenue athletic opportunities.
• Opposes third-party pay-for-play inducements while allowing fair-market compensation for services such as endorsements.
• Directs the Department of Education and other agencies to develop an enforcement and regulatory plan within 30 days, including possible funding and Title IX measures.
• Directs federal labor authorities to clarify college athletes’ status through guidance, rules, or other action.
• Directs the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to review antitrust positions and develop an implementation plan within 60 days.
• Directs White House officials to consult Olympic, Paralympic, and athlete organizations on preserving college sports’ role in developing international competitors.

Who it affects ​

• College athletes, especially women and participants in non-revenue sports.
• Universities, athletic departments, coaches, donors, and third-party athlete sponsors.
• College sports governing bodies and organizations involved in athlete compensation, scholarships, and roster rules.