Secretary Duffy Responds to "Pete and Bobby Challenge" Amid Dual Cabinet Roles

Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has publicly accepted the "Pete and Bobby Challenge," a physical fitness initiative launched by Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Duffy's response, shared via social media, comes as he balances his responsibilities leading both the Department of Transportation and serving as interim Administrator of NASA.

In his tweet, Secretary Duffy stated, "> @SecKennedy and @SecDef — sorry for the late reply, I was busy working double shifts at @USDOT and @NASA. I’m up for the challenge! And I happen to be in Texas with my buddy @WillCain. Let’s MAHA 💪😎." The message underscores his demanding schedule while embracing the administration's health push.

The "Pete and Bobby Challenge" requires participants to complete 50 pull-ups and 100 push-ups in under 10 minutes, aiming for a "top standard" of five minutes. The challenge is part of the broader "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) campaign, championed by President Donald Trump's administration to promote physical fitness and combat rising obesity rates, particularly among American youth and military recruits.

Secretary Kennedy, 71, and Secretary Hegseth, 45, recently completed the challenge themselves at the Pentagon Athletic Center. Hegseth finished in 5 minutes and 25 seconds, narrowly beating Kennedy's time of 5 minutes and 48 seconds. Both secretaries emphasized the importance of physical readiness, with Hegseth stating the goal is to be "fit, not fat" and to ensure "recruits that are ready to go and challenged."

Duffy's acceptance adds another high-profile figure to the fitness drive, which has also seen challenges extended to Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Fox News personality Will Cain. The initiative seeks to encourage public participation and highlight the administration's focus on national health and physical standards.

Sean Duffy was confirmed as the 20th U.S. Secretary of Transportation in January 2025 and was appointed interim NASA Administrator in July 2025. His dual roles involve overseeing critical national infrastructure and leading the nation's space agency, adding a unique dimension to his participation in the fitness challenge.