What to Know About Trump’s Presidential Fitness Test Award Revival

A new CDC report says only five states have mandated federal recommendations for 150 minutes of weekly physical education for students in grades K–5.

President Trump putts as U.S. golfer Bryson DeChambeau (R), South African retired golfer Gary Player (C), and student athletes watch on the putting green on the South Lawn of the White House after the president signed the Presidential Fitness Test proclamation on May 5, 2026. Kent Nishimura/AFP via Getty Images

In the coming academic year, old-fashioned calisthenics, timed runs, and the spirit of competition could return to many public schools.

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a proclamation restoring the Presidential Fitness Test Awards, which date to the mid-20th century but ended under President Barack Obama’s administration. The May 5 White House action is a follow-up to the July executive order re-establishing the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition.