Millions of American students will once again participate in the Presidential Fitness Test following its reinstatement by the Trump administration. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the return of the program in Atlantic City, weeks after President Donald Trump signed a memorandum restoring student awards for the test.
The Presidential Fitness Test, first enacted in the 1950s and phased out in 2013 during the Obama administration, is being brought back as part of the administration's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. "More than 60 years ago, my uncle, President John F. Kennedy, challenged America to make physical fitness a national priority because he understood that the strength of our nation begins with the health of our people. Today, President Trump is restoring that vision," Kennedy Jr. stated. He added that reinstating the test provides parents, schools, and communities with tools to help children develop healthy habits and build physical strength.
According to an HHS statement, the initiative aims to address a "chronic disease crisis" among American children, noting that nearly 1 in 5 is overweight or obese, and a significant percentage of young Americans are ineligible for military service due to poor health and fitness. "That's why HHS is helping families, schools, and communities make physical activity and healthy habits part of everyday life," the statement read.
The fitness test typically involves exercises such as sit-ups, plank holds, mile runs, shuttle runs, push-ups, and pull-ups. Students can earn National or Presidential awards based on age- and gender-specific benchmarks. For example, a 16-year-old boy aiming for the Presidential Award would need to complete 57 sit-ups in one minute or hold a plank for 156 seconds, among other criteria. For a 16-year-old girl, the benchmarks include 48 sit-ups in one minute or a 145-second plank, with adjusted requirements for other exercises.
President Trump first announced the test's return in 2025, signing an executive order that he said would "build a nation of strong, proud, and unstoppable young Americans." He characterized the test as being about "character, competition, and confidence."
Critics, however, have raised concerns that the test could negatively impact some children's self-confidence if they perform poorly in front of their peers.
