Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (R-UT) have sent a letter to University of Utah President Taylor R. Randall regarding the university’s recent private equity agreement. The letter addresses the partnership between the University of Utah Board of Trustees and the private equity firm Otro Capital, which was approved unanimously on December 9, 2025.
In their letter, Walberg and Owens stated: “The House Committee on Education and Workforce has been closely monitoring recent developments in collegiate athletics, including the growing involvement of external investment, particularly from private equity and large institutional investors. On December 9, 2025, the University of Utah Board of Trustees unanimously approved a partnership with the private equity firm Otro Capital.”
They continued: “As the Committee with jurisdiction over federal education policy, including oversight of institutions of higher education and their athletic programs, we are interested in examining this partnership and its broader implications for college athletics.”
The letter concluded: “While recognizing the escalating costs in collegiate athletics, including revenue share obligations under the House v. NCAA settlement, NIL-related expenses, and coaching salaries, the Committee seeks to better understand the University’s rationale for entering into this arrangement.”
The House Education and Workforce Committee is responsible for managing federal initiatives related to education, labor, health, and workforce training. It oversees policies involving school options, vocational programs, employee protections, as well as student loans and worker safeguards. The committee also monitors relevant government bodies while advancing legislative priorities for students and workers according to its official website.
The full text of the letter is available online.
