NCAA, Autonomy 5 conferences respond to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order

The NCAA and Autonomy 5 conferences issued a statement in response to President Donald Trump’s executive order on college sports. Trump signed the order Thursday after previous reports said he planned to do so.

In the order, Trump called for “guardrails” on pay-for-play NIL payments and directed the National Labor Relations Board and Secretary of Labor to clarify athletes are not employees. He also called for new rules regarding scholarships based on athletics spending.

Shortly after The White House announced Trump signed the order, NCAA president Charlie Baker released a statement. He pointed out the “threats” facing college sports, but credited the administration for its work to help settle the space.

“The NCAA is making positive changes for student-athletes and confronting many challenges facing college sports by mandating health and wellness benefits and guaranteeing scholarships, but there are some threats to college sports that federal legislation can effectively address and the Association is advocating with student-athletes and their schools for a bipartisan solution with Congress and the Administration,” Baker said.

“The Association appreciates the Trump Administration’s focus on the life-changing opportunities college sports provides millions of young people and we look forward to working with student-athletes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress and the Trump Administration to enhance college sports for years to come.”

The Autonomous 5 conferences – who are playing central roles in the implementation of the House v. NCAA settlement – also addressed Trump’s decision to sign the executive order. Additionally, the SCORE Act is on track to be introduced on the floor of the House of Representatives, which add to the pushes for federal help with regard to college athletics.

“We appreciate President Trump’s commitment to protecting the future of college athletics,” the A5 conferences said in a joint statement. “This executive order builds on the momentum created by the bipartisan SCORE Act, which will provide long-term stability to college sports and expand resources to support the overall well-being of student-athletes.

“With the House settlement now in effect, student-athletes have more financial and academic support than ever before. Now, attention turns to preserving these monumental gains by passing a federal law with national standards for student-athletes’ NIL rights. We hope Congress sends federal legislation to President Trump’s desk as soon as possible.”

The executive order prohibits third-party, pay-for-play payments but “does not apply to legitimate, fair-market-value compensation that a third party provides to an athlete, such as for a brand endorsement,” according to the White House’s release. It is unknown what entity will have the authority to enforce the prohibition of third-party, pay-for-play payments included in Trump’s executive order.

Pete Nakos contributed.