Trump signs order to clarify college athletes’ employment status amid NIL chaos

President Trump signed an executive order on July 24, 2025 directing federal authorities—including the Department of Labor and the NLRB—to clarify whether college athletes should be considered employees, aiming to standardize NCAA NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) practices and rein in what he called an "unregulated marketplace" of donor-driven bidding wars.

The order also restricts third‑party “pay‑for‑play” deals, seeks protection for scholarships and non‑revenue sports, and involves government agencies such as the DOJ and FTC to help enforce equitable athletic opportunities under evolving regulatory conditions