The USMMA Athletics Act of 2026 authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish a nonprofit corporation, incorporated under New York law and owned by the federal government, to support the athletic programs of the United States Merchant Marine Academy. This corporation would be governed by a board of directors, which can include Department of Transportation employees serving in an advisory capacity, though they cannot make up more than one-third of the board or be paid beyond travel expenses. The bill allows the Secretary to enter into contracts, lease academy property to the corporation for up to five years, transfer existing athletic-support assets to it, and accept funding from sources like the NCAA, athletic conferences, ticket sales, and licensing deals, all while safeguarding against conflicts of interest or reputational harm to the department. It also grants the Secretary new authority to license the Academy's trademarks and service marks, using the resulting fees to cover licensing costs and fund athletic programs and recruiting. This primarily affects the Merchant Marine Academy's athletic department, its student-athletes, and the Department of Transportation, with guidance on the trademark licensing program required within 180 days of enactment; funds collected under the law remain available until spent, with no overall spending cap specified.
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