Trump Signs Executive Order to Restore Fitness Test in Schools

President Trump signed an executive order on Thursday to reestablish the President's Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition and the fitness test.

The Details: He was joined by several sports stars, including Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker, golf professionals Annika Sorenstam and Bryson DeChambeau, and others. From 1966 to 2012, the fitness test required students to run and complete exercises including sit-ups, pull-ups or push-ups, and a sit-and-reach flexibility assessment. Under the Obama administration, it was replaced by the Youth Fitness Program, which the government said “moved away from recognizing athletic performance to providing a barometer on student’s health.” Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will oversee the reinstated program, which will introduce a new Presidential Fitness Award.

For Context: The President’s Council on Youth Fitness was first established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. It was later expanded by President Lyndon B. Johnson who created the Presidential Physical Fitness Test in 1966. The program’s restoration is part of the Trump administration's effort to promote health and physical fitness among Americans.

How the Media Covered It: Washington Times (Lean Right bias) emphasized the program’s intended impact on American youth, and a return to tradition, citing its aim to combat “the widespread epidemic of declining health and physical fitness.” Associated Press (Left) highlighted controversy surrounding attending sports players, including former New York Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor, a registered sex offender, Butker, and Sorenstam. Both outlets highlighted Trump’s interest in sports, and contextualized the order around the US hosting the 2025 Ryder Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup games and the 2028 Summer Olympics. Newsweek (Center) also emphasized the admin’s goal to improve youth health. It quoted Trump and Kennedy Jr. who said the order would help preserve American athletic tradition and re-instill competitive spirit.

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