Preserving America’s Game
This Presidential Action establishes a policy preventing any college football game, specifically CFP or other postseason contests, from being broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the traditionally scheduled Army-Navy Game on the second Saturday in December.
The order directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Chairman of the FCC to coordinate with the CFP Committee, the NCAA, and media partners to establish an exclusive broadcast window for "America's Game." Furthermore, the FCC Chairman is required to review whether public interest obligations of broadcast licensees mandate keeping the Army-Navy Game as a national service event.
Arguments For
Upholding a long-standing national tradition symbolized by the Army-Navy Game ("America's Game") by protecting its dedicated broadcast date.
Ensuring that the game receives undivided national focus, which supports the morale of the Military Service Academies and aligns with the Department of War's interests.
Utilizing executive authority to coordinate federal agencies (Commerce, FCC) to structure broadcast schedules, thus maximizing the visibility and prestige of the military tradition.
Directing a review of broadcast licensee obligations to potentially reinforce the game's status as a national service event.
Arguments Against
Potential for federal government overreach into the scheduling and broadcasting rights of private collegiate athletic organizations (CFP Committee, NCAA).
Implementation relies on voluntary cooperation, and the order may be viewed as suggestive rather than strictly binding on external entities.
Creation of an exclusive broadcast window could be seen as artificially restricting competition and market forces in sports broadcasting.
The action specifically names the Department of War (which is now the Department of Defense), raising questions about the proper constitutional role of the Executive in regulating civilian amateur sports scheduling.
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
The President invokes Constitutional and statutory authority to issue this directive, formally initiating the order as an official executive mandate.
Section 1. Purpose. For over a century, the Army-Navy Game, known as “America’s Game,” has stood as a symbol of excellence and the American spirit. Now, the recent and potentially ongoing expansion of the College Football Playoffs (CFP) and other postseason college football games threatens to encroach upon the second Saturday in December — a date traditionally reserved exclusively for “America’s Game.” Such scheduling conflicts weaken the national focus on our Military Service Academies and detract from a morale-building event of vital interest to the Department of War. Accordingly, it is the policy of the United States that no college football game, specifically college football’s CFP or other postseason games, be broadcast in a manner that directly conflicts with the Army‑Navy Game.
This section establishes the directive's goal: to protect the traditional scheduling of the Army-Navy Game, known as "America’s Game." The President asserts that the growth of College Football Playoff (CFP) games risks scheduling conflicts, which detracts from supporting the Military Service Academies.
The resulting policy mandates that no other college football game should be broadcast at the same time as the Army-Navy Game.
Sec. 2. Implementation. (a) The Secretary of Commerce and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) shall coordinate with the CFP Committee, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, related organizations, other appropriate Government agencies, and the playoffs’ broadcast and media rights partners with the goal of establishing an exclusive window for the Army-Navy Game, during which no other college football game is broadcast.
Implementation requires the Secretary of Commerce and the FCC Chairman to work with the CFP Committee, the NCAA, and media partners.
The objective of this coordination is to create a specific block of time exclusively for the Army-Navy Game broadcast, preventing any competitive college football games from airing simultaneously.
(b) The Chairman of the FCC shall consider reviewing the public interest obligations of broadcast licensees to determine whether those obligations would require that the Army-Navy Game remain a national service event.
The Chairman of the FCC is instructed to examine the requirements placed on television and radio broadcasters concerning the public interest.
This review seeks to determine if these existing obligations support maintaining the Army-Navy Game's status as a significant national event.
Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
This section provides standard legal limitations.
It clarifies that the order does not reduce the legal authority of any executive department or agency heads.
It also specifies that the order does not interfere with the responsibilities of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget concerning budgets or legislative plans.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
The execution of this order must comply with all existing laws.
Furthermore, implementation is dependent upon the availability of necessary funding.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
This provision states that the order does not establish any new legally enforceable rights or benefits for any individual or party against the government or its personnel.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall be borne by the Department of War.
The financial cost associated with formally publishing this Presidential Action is assigned to the Department of War (now the Department of Defense).
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 20, 2026.
This concludes the document, showing the signature of Donald J. Trump, the location (The White House), and the date the order was signed: March 20, 2026.
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