(WFXR)- Governor Glenn Youngkin has issued an executive order directing public schools to reestablish the Presidential Fitness Test.

Executive Order 55 instructs the Virginia Department of Education to work with local public school districts to create the program and review criteria to ensure it’s compliant with the 2022 Virginia Physical Education Standards of Learning.

The Presidential Fitness Test was first introduced by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 and became fully established ten years later under President Lyndon B. Johnson. Typical exercises included a one-mile run, pull-ups and sit-ups, and a sit-and-reach test. The program was discontinued in 2012 under President Barack Obama. It was replaced by the Presidential Youth Fitness Program, which promoted overall health over competition. President Donald Trump reinstated the fitness test on July 31, 2025, citing concerns over declining physical fitness among America’s youth.

Youngkin’s directive also calls for the creation of a Presidential Fitness Test Task Force by January 1, 2026.

“By reinstating the Presidential Fitness Test, we’re renewing a proud national tradition that honors the connection between physical wellness and civic readiness,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “When we talk about the future success of the Commonwealth, what we’re really talking about is the health and success of Virginia’s students today. Preparing students for the future requires more than exemplary in-class instruction; we’re helping young people cultivate strength, accountability, and personal responsibility.”

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The order directs school districts to adopt and implement the fitness test by the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

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