Trump's Transgender Sports Ban Faces Enforcement Challenges 
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
Trump Plans UFC Event at White House for America’s 250th Anniversary 
Trump Appoints Colin McDonald as Assistant Attorney General for National Fraud Enforcement 
JD Vance to Lead U.S. Presidential Delegation at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Why the Australian Open’s online tennis coverage looks like a Wii sports game 
From Messi to Mika Häkkinen: how top athletes can slow down time 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
Panama Supreme Court Voids CK Hutchison Port Concessions, Raising Geopolitical and Trade Concerns 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
Minnesota Judge Rejects Bid to Halt Trump Immigration Enforcement in Minneapolis 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
What makes a good football coach? The reality behind the myths 
Trump Draws Cheers at Ryder Cup as U.S. Trails Europe After Opening Day 
Trump Booed at Club World Cup Final, Praises Pele as Soccer’s GOAT 
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order introducing federal oversight on large recruiting payments in U.S. college sports, particularly football and men’s basketball. The measure seeks to curb third-party payouts from donors to athletes, aiming to protect funding for women’s and non-revenue sports while clarifying the legal status of student-athletes.
While the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) already prohibits such payments, donors have exploited loopholes amid the surge in name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals. The White House clarified the order does not restrict fair-market NIL compensation, such as brand endorsements or autograph signings. Federal agencies will now devise enforcement strategies, leveraging regulatory and funding mechanisms, though specific implementation remains uncertain.
The move follows major shifts in college sports since 2021, when the NCAA first allowed NIL monetization. In March 2025, restrictions preventing athletes from negotiating NIL deals before enrollment were lifted after an antitrust settlement with state attorneys general. The White House argues this evolving NIL landscape has created financial instability in college athletics.
Experts anticipate legal challenges, with critics arguing the order may infringe on athletes’ rights under antitrust law. Michael LeRoy, a labor law professor, noted the NCAA’s refusal to recognize athletes as employees or allow collective bargaining as a core issue.
NCAA President Charlie Baker welcomed federal attention, urging bipartisan legislation to address structural threats to college sports. The order is Trump’s latest intervention in athletics, following directives on transgender participation in women’s sports and funding disputes with elite universities.
This executive action could reshape college sports economics, influencing scholarship allocations and the broader NIL market while intensifying debates over amateurism and athlete compensation.
