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EO 14322Executive OrderTrump 47 · R

Executive Order 14322

Saving College Sports

This executive order seeks to preserve college sports by directing federal agencies to curb third-party pay-for-play payments to athletes, protect non-revenue and women's sports through scholarship and roster requirements, and shield collegiate athletics from antitrust litigation. It mandates plans from the Education Secretary, Attorney General, and FTC within 30-60 days to advance these goals using regulatory, enforcement, and litigation mechanisms.

Federal Register Open PDF 90 FR 35821

Impact dates

  1. 2025-2026 athletic season scholarship and roster requirements take effect

  2. Attorney General and FTC Chair review of litigation positions and implementation plan due

  3. Secretary of Education plan due on regulatory/enforcement/litigation mechanisms to advance policies

Key directives

  • Secretary of Education to develop plan within 30 days to advance policies through regulatory, enforcement, litigation mechanisms including federal funding decisions, Title IX enforcement, and challenging state NIL laws
  • Attorney General and FTC Chair to review/revise litigation positions and develop implementation plan within 60 days
  • Secretary of Labor and NLRB to determine and implement measures clarifying student-athlete status
  • Revenue-sharing between universities and athletes must preserve/expand women's and non-revenue sports
  • Athletic departments >$125M revenue must increase non-revenue scholarships and maximize roster spots for 2025-2026
  • Athletic departments >$50M revenue must maintain non-revenue scholarships and maximize roster spots
  • Departments ≤$50M or without revenue sports must not disproportionately reduce non-revenue opportunities

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

  • EO issuance establishes federal policy against third-party pay-for-play payments
  • revenue thresholds ($125M/$50M) set for 2025-2026 athletic season scholarship/roster expectations

Near term (90d)

  • Secretary of Education plan due within 30 days (by August 23, 2025) on regulatory/enforcement/litigation mechanisms
  • Attorney General and FTC Chair plan due within 60 days (by September 22, 2025) on litigation positions and guidelines

Long term

  • Potential restructuring of athlete compensation landscape through federal enforcement actions
  • Possible preemption of state NIL laws through interstate commerce litigation
  • Labor/NRLB clarification of student-athlete employment status
  • Impact on 2025-2026 and future athletic seasons' roster and scholarship allocations

Risks & tensions

  • Potential conflict with existing state NIL laws and possible litigation over federal preemption of state regulation
  • Antitrust enforcement tension: EO seeks to shield NCAA from antitrust suits while federal agencies traditionally enforce antitrust law
  • Title IX enforcement mechanism unclear—HHS role mentioned but specific authority to mandate scholarship numbers may exceed statutory scope
  • 'Student-athlete status' clarification by Labor/NLRB could conflict with ongoing NLRB proceedings and court rulings on employee classification
  • Vague 'plan' requirements create uncertainty about binding effect; Sec. 6(c) disclaimers limit enforceability
  • Revenue thresholds ($125M/$50M) lack clear enforcement mechanism or consequence for non-compliance
  • Definition of 'non-revenue sports' and 'disproportionately reduce' left undefined
Executive Order 14322: Saving College Sports · Executive Orders