Trump Signs Order To Bring Back Fitness Test, Restore Youth Fitness Standards

President Donald Trump signed an executive order restoring the Presidential Fitness Test and revitalizing a federal sports council, marking his administration’s latest push to Make America Healthy Again.

The announcement signals a return to physical fitness standards that shaped generations of American students. The move comes as youth obesity rates continue climbing nationwide.

“We are building a nation of strong, proud, and unstoppable young Americans. The Presidential Fitness Test is not just about physical strength — it’s about character, competition, and confidence,” Trump said at the White House ceremony. “Together, we are making fitness fun, competitive, and cool again.”

Vice President JD Vance and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. joined Trump for the signing. Sports figures, including golfers Bryson DeChambeau and Annika Sörenstam, NFL Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor, Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, and wrestler Triple H, attended.

Kennedy will oversee the fitness test program, which Trump called a “gold standard” for youth physical fitness. The revitalized President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition will develop school programs and a Presidential Fitness Award.

Trump also tasked the council with addressing college sports controversies. The group will work on “reforming the broken transfer portal and keeping men out of women’s sports,” according to the White House.

The administration tied the fitness initiative to upcoming sporting events. The U.S. will host the Ryder Cup, President’s Cup, FIFA World Cup, and Olympic Games over the next three years.

“This is a movement about discipline, strength, and excellence,” Trump said. “The more we empower our kids to push harder, reach higher, and strive together, the more we secure America’s greatness for generations to come.”

The 2026 celebrations will mark both America’s 250th anniversary and the 70th anniversary of the original President’s Council on Youth Fitness. That council, established under President Dwight Eisenhower, created the fitness test that became a rite of passage for millions of students.