Earlier this month, President Trump issued a new executive order announced in the White House article “President Trump is Saving College Sports.”

The official order explains its rationale as follows: “The convergence of enormous pressure to win in football and basketball and the loosening, both by litigation and by State legislation, of consistent rules or limits concerning eligibility, transfers, and pay-for-play schemes has created an out-of-control financial arms race in these sports that is driving universities into debt, threatening to siphon resources from other sports, and damaging student-athletes’ educational and graduation opportunities.”

Put simply, the competition to win and inconsistencies in eligibility have created a plethora of financial issues and instability in college athletics, leading to debt and overall damage to not only athletics but higher education as a whole. This executive order aims to alleviate these issues by first covering new regulations on eligibility limits, transfers and revenue, hoping to address the inconsistencies between schools. It also aims to protect women’s and Olympic sports—such as swimming, track and field, wrestling and rowing—which often depend on funding generated by football and basketball programs. The order will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2026.

Part I introduces age-based limits. It establishes a maximum of five years of participation in college athletes, after which athletes are no longer eligible to compete. Additionally, it prohibits athletes who have previously competed at the professional level from returning to participate in collegiate sports.

Part II details transferring athletes. Athletes will be limited to transferring once, or up to a second time provided they have completed a four-year degree. This policy is based on the belief that excessive transferring can disrupt student-athletes, with a greater emphasis placed on their “academic development and long-term well-being,” which should be prioritized moving forward.

Additionally, there will be restrictions on the use of federal funds for revenue-sharing payments, coaching and athletic compensation. It also prohibits pay-for-play arrangements that exceed fair market value.

Enforcement will involve monitoring roster sizes and tracking spending on athletic aid separately for men’s and women’s programs. Federal agents that distribute grants to higher education institutions will evaluate any violations of this new executive order and decide who is acceptable to receive grants; this may be a suspension or a debarment, depending on the circumstances, leaving colleges with no choice but to comply with these new demands to maintain access to federal grants.