Trump Signs College Sports Order Using Federal Funds as Leverage

April 3, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC

President Donald Trump signed an executive order targeting college sports, seeking to put his imprint on a multibillion industry whose landscape has dramatically shifted in recent years.

The order aims to limit the ability of students to transfer schools, oversee collectives that raise money so that collegiate athletes can profit off their name, image and likeness rights, and to protect women’s and Olympic sports. It’s almost certain to face legal challenges and complicates efforts by colleges to adapt to an environment that has seen numerous changes already.

Trump’s order on Friday directs federal agencies to “bolster the effectiveness of key ...

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