High Country Times

Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg and Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chairman Rick Allen have reached out to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regarding taxpayer money used by the previous administration in efforts to unionize student-athletes. The inquiry was directed to NLRB Chairman Marvin Kaplan and Acting General Counsel William Cowen.

In their letter, Walberg and Allen referenced a 2021 memorandum from General Counsel Abruzzo. This memo suggested that certain student-athletes could be classified as employees under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). It also indicated that she would pursue cases where players were misclassified as student-athletes rather than employees.

The letter expressed concerns about the potential impact of this classification on student-athletes. It noted that athletes might lose the ability to negotiate deals with universities, face difficulties transferring between schools, and see nonrevenue sports become more costly for institutions. Additionally, it raised the possibility that scholarships could be considered taxable income by the IRS under an employer-employee relationship.

Walberg and Allen's communication highlighted worries over taxpayer resources being used in what they described as a case aimed at favoring union interests. They requested an accounting of all expenditures related to a specific case involving the University of Southern California; the Pac-12 Conference; National Collegiate Athletics Association by March 14, 2025.