Murphy Introduces Legislation Codifying President Trump's Restoration of the Merit-Based Presidential Fitness Test

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D., introduced the Make America's Youth Healthy Again Act to codify President Trump’s executive order to establish the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and to refocus the Presidential Fitness Test.

"As both a urologist and the only practicing surgeon in Congress, I have seen firsthand the devastating decline of the health of America’s youth," said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. "President Trump is right to reinstate the Presidential Fitness Test and direct his administration to promote the benefits of exercise and proper nutrition in schools across the country. Physical fitness is essential to combating obesity, a major contributor to our nation’s life expectancy stagnation, declining fertility, and mental health crisis. We must challenge America’s youth to improve their health and fitness through the original, merit-based Presidential Fitness Test."

Background
The President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition was created in 1957 under President Eisenhower in response to studies on the poor fitness of American students and their European peers.

In 1966, the Presidential Fitness Test was established under President Carter, consisting of several exercises and performance targets for students to achieve based on their age and sex.

In 2012, President Obama removed athletic performance metrics and eliminated peer-to-peer competition in a rebranded Presidential Youth Fitness Program.

On July 31, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14327 to restore the original, merit-based Presidential Fitness Test.

Read Murphy's Op-Ed in the Daily Caller here.