Proposed 'Presidential Fitness Test Act' Creates New Advisory Council to Set Youth Fitness Goals and Address 'National Security Threats' of Obesity

The newly proposed Presidential Fitness Test Act of 2025 is trying to bring back a familiar name, but with a new layer of government advisory. In short, this legislation establishes the President's Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, an advisory body tasked with pushing national fitness goals, especially for young people. The bill specifically states that funds appropriated for the Presidential Youth Fitness Program can now be used to reestablish the actual Presidential Fitness Test in U.S. schools, which many millennials and Gen Z might remember from gym class.

The Council: Who’s Running the Show?

This new Council will be made up of up to 30 members, all appointed directly by the President. These members serve two-year terms and can be reappointed, giving the executive branch significant control over who sets the national fitness agenda. While members serve without pay, they can get reimbursed for travel expenses, meaning this advisory body will have administrative costs covered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), subject to Congressional appropriations. For taxpayers, this means a small, ongoing administrative cost to fund the Council’s operations and travel, though it’s dependent on Congress actually allocating the money.

From Push-Ups to Policy: What the Council Will Actually Do

The Council’s functions are broad, covering everything from reestablishing the Presidential Fitness Test as the main tool for fitness awards to developing campaigns that ‘elevate American sports, military readiness, and health traditions.’ Essentially, they are supposed to be the think tank for national physical education and nutrition policy. They are also tasked with advising on strategies to expand sports participation at all levels—local, state, and national. This could mean more federal focus on funding local school sports programs or creating community partnerships, which could be a big win for busy parents looking for affordable activities for their kids.

The Security Angle: Obesity as a National Threat

One provision that raises eyebrows is the Council’s mandate to advise on “addressing national security threats from rising childhood obesity, chronic diseases, and sedentary lifestyles.” This is a significant framing shift. By classifying a public health issue like childhood obesity as a national security threat, the bill potentially opens the door for broader, more serious federal intervention and policy mandates in areas traditionally managed by local schools and states. While promoting fitness is a good thing, defining it in terms of military readiness and national security grants the executive branch a powerful justification for its recommendations.

The Oversight Loophole

Here’s the part that policy wonks—and anyone who cares about government transparency—should note: The bill explicitly exempts the Council from reporting to Congress under the Federal Advisory Committee Act. This is a big deal. Normally, advisory committees have to provide regular reports to Congress, allowing legislative oversight of their activities and recommendations. By sidestepping this requirement, the Council gets to operate with less public scrutiny and oversight, reporting primarily to the President. Since the President appoints all members and decides whether to extend the Council beyond its initial two-year lifespan, this exemption concentrates significant power and influence over national fitness policy within the Executive Branch, limiting the checks and balances usually applied to such bodies.