Trump Signs Executive Order Limiting Third-Party Pay, Expanding Scholarships in College Sports

President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at regulating college athletics by restricting pay-for-play booster payments while increasing support for non-revenue and women's sports. The order mandates that large athletic programs with over $125 million in revenue must increase scholarships for non-revenue sports, while smaller programs must maintain or avoid significant cuts in these sports. It seeks to ban third-party pay-for-play inducements but allows athletes to receive fair market value for legitimate endorsements, aligning with recent NCAA legal settlements. The order directs the Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board to clarify the employment status of college athletes, addressing ongoing debates about athletes as employees and unionization efforts. Reactions include support from figures like Alabama's athletics director Greg Byrne, who praised the order for promoting sustainability in college sports. While the enforcement details remain unclear, the order reflects a White House effort to impose regulatory guardrails amid the rapidly evolving landscape of college athlete compensation and legal challenges.