Pull-Ups at the Terminal: Inside RFK Jr’s Airport Gym Initiative

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has launched a new $1 billion airport fitness plan that will bring gyms and activity areas to U.S. airports, aiming to make travel healthier and more family-friendly.

RFK Jr. introduced the initiative at Reagan National Airport, performing 20 pull-ups in a friendly contest with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, using the moment to highlight the program’s goal of encouraging Americans to stay active even while traveling.

The new airport gyms are part of a broader push by RFK Jr. to promote physical fitness through public engagement.

According to the announcement, U.S. airports will soon include workout stations, children’s play zones, and designated movement spaces to improve passenger wellness and reduce travel stress.

RFK Jr.’s airport gyms initiative arrives during a turbulent moment for his department, as he also navigates vaccine policy controversies and renewed media scrutiny of his private life.

Still, the administration argues that the airport fitness plan addresses a real need in U.S. airports by offering healthier options for millions of travelers each year.