politics
White House Committee Proposes Federal Task Force, Antitrust Exemption to Regulate College Athlete Pay, Transfers and Media Rights
President Donald Trump is intensifying efforts to reform college athletics, warning the system could be lost forever amid rising costs and rule changes. A White House-backed committee has proposed a task force with antitrust protections to address athlete pay, transfers and media rights. The push follows a recent executive order directing federal agencies to scrutinize violations.
May 9, 7:40 PM·2m read1 source
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President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on Congress to overhaul college sports. He warned the system could be lost forever as a White House-backed committee pushes sweeping changes to rein in athlete pay, transfers and soaring costs. The proposals include creating a task force to examine pooled media rights, limits on coaching salaries, rewritten eligibility rules and changes to the transfer portal, according to a draft document obtained by Yahoo Sports and reported by The Associated Press.
The draft proposal calls on Congress to quickly pass legislation creating a task force with an antitrust exemption and authority to override individual state laws. The draft committee document calls for lawmakers to act before Congress leaves for its traditional August recess. The push builds on a recent executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The order described college athletics as an out-of-control financial arms race fueled by loosening rules around player compensation, transfers and eligibility. It urged federal action before the system destabilizes further. "Further delay is not an option given what is at stake," the executive order states.
It cites roughly 500,000 annual educational, athletic and leadership opportunities provided by college athletics along with nearly $4 billion in scholarships. The White House said the current model is driving universities into debt, threatening women’s and Olympic sports and undermining student-athletes’ educational opportunities.
President Donald Trump spoke to reporters as he walked to board Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on May 8, 2026.
