Overview

• On July 31, President Trump signed an executive order reviving the Presidential Fitness Test and reestablishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition under the Department of Health and Human Services.
• The administration appointed professional athletes to lead the council’s work on crafting updated national youth fitness standards.
• Advocates call for age-specific, health-centered benchmarks that shift the focus from competition toward lifelong wellness.
• With CDC data showing one in five children obese, experts warn the test must be paired with comprehensive programs, federal funding and incentives to tackle broader health challenges.
• Educators highlight a $1 billion cut to school mental health funds and are seeking federal resources to support motivation, rewards and integrated wellness initiatives.