Trump Executive Order Addresses College Sports Funding

The order states that without a national solution, major programs may withdraw resources from those sports as they negotiate direct payments to athletes. It also directs the Department of Education to require colleges to report roster spots and spending by gender.

Background on athlete compensation changes Universities are preparing to distribute up to $20.5 million per school in the 2025-26 academic year under the House v. NCAA settlement. The settlement allocates 90 percent of retroactive payments to football and men's basketball players, 5 percent to women's basketball, and 5 percent to all other athletes.

Several tennis programs have already been eliminated this spring. Men's tennis participation in Division I fell from 258 programs in 2010 to 237 in 2025.

reporting requirements The order requires annual reporting of spending and participation numbers. It does not alter existing Title IX rules that mandate equal opportunity by gender. The administration previously removed NIL guidance that had required equitable distribution of name, image and likeness compensation under Title IX.

"Without strong Title IX guardrails, many schools will continue to pour money into men's athletics while under-resourcing women's sports," Shiwali Patel of the National Women's Law Center said in a statement. Georgia football coach Kirby Smart stated his concern that revenue sports could reduce support for other programs.

Arizona State sports historian Victoria Jackson said some universities are likely to cut teams despite the order.