President Donald Trump has signed an executive order reviving the Presidential Fitness Test, a decades-old public school fitness assessment program aimed at encouraging physical activity among American youth.
The order, signed Thursday, assigns the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — the task of reintroducing the once-iconic program that was discontinued in 2013. The move comes as part of a broader White House initiative to address the growing crisis of obesity, chronic disease, and physical inactivity across the nation.
“In recent decades, our country has seen a sharp decline in health and fitness, especially among our youth,” a senior White House official told NBC News. “This administration is committed to reversing those trends by promoting healthy habits early in life.”
In a statement, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that the initiative seeks to create “a culture of strength and excellence for years to come,” giving every child in America the opportunity to lead a healthier, more active lifestyle.
The original Presidential Fitness Test, first introduced under President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, became a national staple in physical education. Students were evaluated on a series of physical tasks including push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups, timed runs, and flexibility exercises. By the 1960s, top-performing students were honored with the Presidential Physical Fitness Award.
The program was phased out after the 2012–2013 school year and replaced during the Obama administration with the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which shifted focus from competition to personal health benchmarks.
Trump’s new order mandates the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition to modernize the criteria for a revised Presidential Fitness Award and to develop school-based programs that promote excellence in physical education.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has been outspoken about the dangers of childhood obesity, praised the initiative on Thursday. “The Presidential Fitness Award was a huge item of pride when I was growing up,” Kennedy said. “We need to re-instill that spirit of competition and that commitment to nutrition and physical fitness.”
As part of the relaunch, the executive order encourages partnerships with professional athletes and sports organizations to boost engagement and awareness. Attendees at Thursday’s signing ceremony included Council Chair and professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, Pro Football Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, and golf legend Annika Sörenstam.
President Trump said the new council would be instrumental in shaping policy and preserving America’s athletic identity.
“This council will play an important role in shaping these new policies and ensuring that we preserve the American athletic tradition for many generations to come,” he said. “And in the years ahead, we’ll have the chance to showcase our nation’s athletic dominance on the world stage.”
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