President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at clarifying the employment status of college athletes in an effort to create clearer national standards for the NCAA. The move comes amid a growing sense of chaos and controversy over the recent surge in money flowing into and around college athletics.
Trump’s order directs federal authorities to provide guidance or rules on the matter, with the goal of maximizing educational benefits and opportunities provided by higher education institutions through athletics. However, it does not provide specific details on the issue.
The NCAA has been lobbying for limited antitrust protection to maintain control over the new landscape, while a handful of bills have stalled in Congress. Trump’s order makes no mention of these efforts.
Many colleges have insisted that athletes are students and cannot be considered employees, but some coaches have suggested collective bargaining as a potential solution. The issue is complicated by the fact that universities would become responsible for paying wages, benefits, and workers’ compensation, while private institutions fall under federal labor laws.
Trump’s order also includes provisions to preserve athletic scholarships and roster spots for non-revenue sports, protect the rights of athletes through litigation, and safeguard the collegiate pipeline feeding Team USA.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/trump-name-image-likeness-order-standards-ncaa-fc81ce9ab3813e02b763494223930a93