White House Revives Presidential Fitness Test and Updates National Fitness Council
Krissy Vann | Host, All Things Fitness and Wellness
In a move aimed at addressing growing concerns over youth health and physical inactivity, President Donald J. Trump has signed a new executive order reestablishing the Presidential Fitness Test and revitalizing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.
The order, issued July 31, 2025, revokes Executive Order 13824 (2018) and amends Executive Order 13265 (2002), marking a return to a more formalized national approach to youth fitness assessment. The updated Council will oversee efforts to promote sports participation, daily movement, and nutritional awareness, with an emphasis on improving the health of children and adolescents across the country.
“As the United States prepares to celebrate its semiquincentennial anniversary in 2026, we must address the threat to the vitality and longevity of our country that is posed by America’s declining health and physical fitness,” the order states. It cites high rates of obesity, inactivity, and poor nutrition—especially among youth—as pressing challenges with implications for the economy, military readiness, and education.
The Presidential Fitness Test, which will now fall under the purview of the Secretary of Health and Human Services with support from the Secretary of Education, is intended to serve as a national assessment tool. It will form the basis for a new iteration of the Presidential Fitness Award and support expanded school-based programs focused on physical education.
The order outlines a series of policy goals, including increased access to youth sports, promotion of physical and mental well-being, and the engagement of both public and private sectors in cultivating what it calls “a national culture of strength, vitality, and excellence.”
The reestablished President’s Council will consist of up to 30 members appointed by the President, with terms of two years. Members will serve in an advisory role, offering recommendations on strategies to improve physical fitness and expand sports participation. This includes proposing “bold and innovative fitness goals for American youth,” developing campaigns to highlight American sports and military readiness, and exploring ways to address rising rates of chronic disease and sedentary lifestyles.
According to the order, the Council will also be tasked with organizing events and forming partnerships with athletes, professional leagues, nonprofits, and other organizations to promote its initiatives.
Support for the Council will be provided by the Department of Health and Human Services, which will offer funding and administrative assistance, subject to the availability of appropriations. The Council may also form subcommittees with presidential approval and will operate under the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The executive order is set to expire two years from its signing unless extended. A revised seal will be created to reflect the Council’s new name and expanded mandate.
The move comes as the United States prepares to host several major sporting events, including the Ryder Cup, the President’s Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and the Olympic Games—all of which the order notes as potential sources of national inspiration.
The Presidential Fitness Test, originally introduced in the 1950s, was once a staple in American schools but had been phased out in recent years amid criticism over its relevance and effectiveness. The updated version is expected to undergo revisions before implementation.
