Trump Signs Executive Order on NCAA Athlete Rules

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday aimed at strengthening the National Collegiate Athletic Association's oversight of college sports, particularly in response to changes brought by name, image and likeness rights for athletes. The action, announced by the White House during the NCAA men's and women's Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, seeks to address concerns over eligibility, transfers and compensation amid a landscape transformed since 2021.

The order directs federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the General Services Administration, to evaluate universities for compliance with NCAA rules on athlete transfers, eligibility and pay-for-play arrangements. Noncompliance could lead to reviews of federal grants and contracts, potentially withholding funding from institutions that violate these standards. It specifies a five-year window for athlete participation, with exceptions for military service or other hardships, and bans professional athletes from returning to college eligibility. Transfer rules would limit athletes to one unrestricted move during their undergraduate years with immediate eligibility, while a second transfer could...