Legis
Education
Executive order · Thursday 24 July 2025

Saving College Sports

Listen to the summary
0:00

  • Overview of College Sports

    • College sports provide significant educational and leadership opportunities for over 500,000 student-athletes, with nearly $4 billion in scholarships annually.
    • They contribute to local economies and cultural activities in many communities.
    • Major college football and athletics lead to high international success, particularly in the Olympics, where a significant portion of Olympic athletes are former collegiate athletes.

  • Current Challenges Faced

    • There is an unprecedented threat to the future of college sports due to litigation against athlete compensation rules.
    • Recent court rulings have eliminated restrictions on athlete compensation and transfers, resulting in bidding wars among universities for top players.
    • This creates an imbalanced system where financial resources are disproportionately directed towards revenue-generating sports, threatening non-revenue sports.

  • Urgent Need for National Solutions

    • A national framework is necessary to protect and preserve college sports and non-revenue programs.
    • Colleges have begun directly paying athletes but need to simultaneously strengthen non-revenue sports.
    • Immediate action is needed to enforce reasonable limits on athlete compensation and to ensure fair distribution of resources.

  • Executive Branch Policies

    • Preservation and potential expansion of scholarship opportunities in women’s and non-revenue sports for the 2025-2026 season and beyond.
    • Colleges earning over $125 million must increase scholarships and roster spots for non-revenue sports; those with over $50 million must maintain scholarship levels.
    • Revenue-sharing between universities and athletes should not compromise opportunities in women’s and non-revenue sports.
    • Prohibition of third-party, pay-for-play payments, while allowing fair market value compensation for endorsements.

  • Implementation Steps

    • The Secretary of Education will work with relevant agencies to develop a plan to promote these policies within 30 days.
    • The Secretary of Labor and National Labor Relations Board will clarify the status of collegiate athletes for maximizing benefits in education and athletics.
    • The Attorney General and FTC Chairman will stabilize college athletics through legal measures and develop guidelines for protecting student-athletes' rights within 60 days.

  • Collaboration with Athlete Organizations

    • Consultation with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee to safeguard the role of collegiate athletics in developing athletes for international competitions.

  • Legal and Administrative Notes

    • The order does not affect existing legal authorities or create enforceable rights against the U.S. government.
    • Implementation is subject to applicable law and budget appropriations.