Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Saves College Sports

7/24/2025

Fact Sheets

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Action Summary

Preservation of College Sports: Executive Order aims to protect student-athletes, athletic scholarships, and the unique status of collegiate sports, including Olympic and non-revenue programs.
Protection of Women’s and Non-Revenue Sports: Emphasis on preserving and expanding opportunities and safeguarding non-revenue programs, ensuring that revenue-sharing and funds are managed to support these sports.
Prohibition on Pay-for-Play: Bars third-party pay-for-play payments to collegiate athletes, exempting only legitimate, fair-market-value compensations such as brand endorsements.
Clarification of Athlete Status: Directs the Secretary of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board to define student-athlete status in order to uphold the educational and developmental model of college sports.
Legal and Regulatory Safeguards: Instructs the Attorney General and the Federal Trade Commission to take measures to protect athletes’ rights and stabilize the collegiate sports system against antitrust and other legal challenges.
Coordination with Athletic Organizations: Calls for consultations with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams and related organizations to maintain the role of college athletics in developing world-class athletes.
Addressing Litigation and NIL Challenges: Recognizes recent legal rulings and state-level NIL laws that have led to financial disparities and competitive imbalances, potentially endangering non-revenue sports.
Promotion of a Legacy in Sports: Reaffirms President Trump’s commitment to American sports excellence, including past efforts like securing U.S. bids for major international events and maintaining gender parity in athletics.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order aims to protect and expand opportunities for scholarships and collegiate athletic competition, particularly in women’s and non-revenue sports. This could lead to increased support and resources for these programs at Vanderbilt University.
Prohibiting third-party, pay-for-play payments to collegiate athletes while allowing fair-market-value compensation could create a complex regulatory environment. Vanderbilt may need to ensure compliance with these regulations to avoid legal challenges.
The directive to clarify the status of student-athletes could impact how Vanderbilt manages its athletic programs, particularly in terms of labor relations and athlete compensation.
There is a risk that ongoing litigation and conflicting state NIL laws could create an unstable environment for college sports, potentially affecting Vanderbilt’s ability to recruit and retain top talent.
The focus on protecting non-revenue sports and women’s sports may require Vanderbilt to reassess its allocation of resources to ensure compliance with the Executive Order while maintaining competitive athletic programs.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt Athletics may need to adjust its policies and practices to align with the new regulations, particularly regarding athlete compensation and scholarship opportunities.
The Office of Compliance will play a crucial role in ensuring that Vanderbilt adheres to the new federal guidelines and avoids potential legal issues.
Vanderbilt’s Legal Department may need to monitor ongoing litigation and state NIL laws to provide guidance on navigating the complex legal landscape surrounding college sports.
The Development Office might need to explore new fundraising strategies to support non-revenue and women’s sports, given the potential concentration of private-donor money in revenue-generating sports.

Financial Impact

The Executive Order’s emphasis on preserving non-revenue sports could lead to increased financial support for these programs, potentially benefiting Vanderbilt’s athletic department.
Vanderbilt may face financial challenges if it needs to reallocate resources to comply with the new regulations and support non-revenue sports.
The potential for increased litigation and regulatory compliance costs could impact Vanderbilt’s budget and financial planning for its athletic programs.
Changes in the NIL landscape could affect Vanderbilt’s ability to attract top athletes, potentially impacting revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, and sponsorships.

Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt Athletics Department should evaluate the implications of the Executive Order on its scholarship and athletic programs, particularly focusing on the preservation and potential expansion of opportunities in women’s and non-revenue sports. This evaluation will help ensure compliance and identify areas for growth.
The Office of Legal Affairs should closely monitor developments related to the clarification of student-athletes’ status by the Secretary of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Understanding these changes will be crucial for maintaining compliance and protecting the university’s interests in collegiate athletics.
Vanderbilt’s Financial Planning Office should assess the financial impact of the Executive Order, particularly regarding revenue-sharing models and the prohibition of pay-for-play payments. This assessment will help in strategizing financial allocations to support non-revenue sports effectively.
The Office of Federal Relations should engage with policymakers and athletic organizations to advocate for federal actions that align with Vanderbilt’s interests in maintaining competitive balance and protecting student-athletes’ rights.
Vanderbilt’s Compliance Office should review and update its policies on NIL opportunities to ensure they align with federal guidelines and protect student-athletes from exploitation while maintaining competitive fairness.

Opportunities

The Executive Order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt Athletics to enhance its reputation by expanding its support for women’s and non-revenue sports, potentially attracting more diverse talent and increasing its competitive edge.
Vanderbilt can leverage its position to become a leader in advocating for fair and equitable NIL practices, setting a standard for other institutions and potentially influencing national policy.
By aligning with the Executive Order’s emphasis on protecting college sports, Vanderbilt can strengthen its partnerships with Olympic and Paralympic organizations, enhancing its role in developing world-class athletes.

Relevance Score: 4 (The Executive Order necessitates major process changes in Vanderbilt’s athletic programs and compliance strategies.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.4

Timeline for Implementation

N/A – There are no specific deadlines or timeframes mentioned in the Order, as all directives are stated without an implementation deadline.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of Labor – Secretary of Labor: Directed to clarify the status of student-athletes to protect non-revenue sports and collegiate athletic opportunities.
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): Tasked alongside the Secretary of Labor to help clarify student-athlete status and ensure protections within college sports.
Department of Justice – Attorney General: Instructed to take action to safeguard student-athletes’ rights and address antitrust and other legal challenges affecting college athletics.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Directed to collaborate with the Attorney General in protecting student-athletes and securing the long-term stability of college sports.
Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy: Charged with consulting with sports-related organizations to support and protect the collegiate athletic system.
Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison: Also required to engage with relevant organizations, including U.S. Olympic and Paralympic teams, to defend the role of college sports in American leadership development.

Relevance Score: 3 (A moderate number of Federal Agencies and White House offices are impacted by the order.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of Labor – Tasked with clarifying the status of student-athletes to safeguard and potentially expand opportunities in non-revenue sports.
National Labor Relations Board – Charged with the clarification of student-athlete status as part of preserving collegiate athletic opportunities.
Attorney General – Directed to take actions to protect student-athletes’ rights and ensure the stability of college athletics.
Federal Trade Commission – Assigned to act in protection of student-athletes’ rights and to mitigate antitrust and legal challenges affecting college sports.
Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy – Instructed to consult with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams and other relevant organizations regarding the role of college athletics.
Director of the White House Office of Public Liaison – Also required to consult with U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams and other organizations to protect college sports as a developmental platform.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directives affect Cabinet-level officials and key White House staff, resulting in high strategic impact).