Preserving America's Game
Signed March 20, 2026·Donald Trump·91 FR 14639
Source
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Plain-language summary
Declares it the policy of the United States that no college football game, particularly College Football Playoff or other postseason games, be broadcast in a way that conflicts with the annual Army-Navy Game, which is traditionally played on the second Saturday of December. Directs the Secretary of Commerce and the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission to coordinate with the College Football Playoff Committee, the National Collegiate Athletic Association, other organizations, government agencies, and broadcast and media rights partners to try to establish an exclusive broadcast window protecting the Army-Navy Game from competing coverage. Also directs the FCC Chairman to consider reviewing broadcast licensees' public interest obligations to determine whether they require treating the Army-Navy Game as a national service event. States it does not alter existing agency authority, does not create enforceable legal rights, and applies subject to available appropriations, with publication costs borne by the Department of War.
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Claimed authority
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered
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The order, in full
Executive Order 14396 of March 20, 2026
Preserving America's Game
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, it is hereby ordered:
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.
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.
(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.
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.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with
applicable law and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(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.
(d) The costs for publication of this order shall
be borne by the Department of War.
(Presidential Sig.)
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 20, 2026.Reproduced from the Federal Register plain-text record, signed March 20, 2026. Typesetting artifacts are removed; no wording is changed.