Federal agencies would review college sports rule violations

Federal agencies shall, when appropriate, review covered sports-rule violations by federally funded colleges. The review covers eligibility, transfers, revenue sharing, and improper financial activities at colleges that receive federal contracts or grants. Agencies must apply lawful, operative rules in effect on August 1, 2026. The review may affect suspension or debarment decisions, which can limit a recipient’s federal support. The Office of Management and Budget shall issue guidance for agencies. Sections 3 through 6 take effect on August 1, 2026; the review applies to rules in effect on that date.

The governing body should consider updating or clarifying national college-sports rules. Suggested rules would cover college athletes and participating higher education institutions, including eligibility, transfers, medical care, revenue sharing, improper payments, and athlete agents. The changes must be allowed by law and applicable court orders. The order suggests no more than five years of participation, with limited exceptions, and generally bars professional athletes from returning. It suggests one immediate-eligibility transfer, plus one more after a four-year degree, and revenue-sharing rules that do not reduce women’s or Olympic sports opportunities. The governing body is asked to act before August 1, 2026; these suggestions do not themselves change the governing body’s rules.

Federal agencies shall or should take additional implementation steps, including information collection, possible reporting rules, federal-law enforcement, and support for qualifying legal challenges. The steps involve college athletic rosters and payments, student-athlete agents, federally relevant sports rules, and state laws that conflict with governing-body rules or federal law. The General Services Administration shall propose regular compliance information collection. The Education Secretary shall consider rulemaking on roster spots and men’s and women’s athletic aid or payments. The Federal Trade Commission shall enforce specified consumer-protection laws against covered agents and related entities. The Attorney General may support meritorious challenges to conflicting state laws, consistent with federal law. These actions begin under sections 3 through 6, which take effect on August 1, 2026; proposed rules and legal actions depend on agency authority and applicable law.