Trump Targets Soaring College Sports Costs with New Executive Order

U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Friday his intention to sign a new executive order aimed at curbing the escalating costs of college sports, particularly focusing on football programs. He disclosed these plans during a White House event attended by lawmakers, sports commissioners, and former athletes.

The president emphasized that the rising costs stem largely from lucrative name, image, and likeness (NIL) contracts, which have burdened colleges financially. Trump called on Congress to draft legislation to better regulate these agreements while foreseeing potential legal challenges to his executive order.

The NCAA had previously barred athletes from receiving compensation for their NIL, but this changed following a Supreme Court ruling in 2021. Though Trump expressed nostalgia for the scholarship-only days, he acknowledged the need for reform. The issue has Congress' attention with potential legislation on the horizon.