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Kash Patel clashes with Hirono over FBI fitness standards for women

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Tuesday, September 16th 2025 at 17:33 GMT by Washington Examiner
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Senators Clash Over the FBI’s New Fitness Standards—Pull‑Ups for Women at the Center

The Washington Examiner’s latest coverage highlights a spirited showdown in the U.S. Senate between two members—Sen. Patel (R‑??) and Sen. Mazie Hirono (D‑HI)—over the Department of Justice’s most controversial internal policy change in years: a new, stricter fitness test for all FBI personnel that, for the first time, requires women to perform pull‑ups in order to qualify for assignment. While the FBI argues the test is essential for maintaining operational readiness, the debate has quickly morphed into a broader conversation about gender equity, employee welfare, and the political forces shaping federal law‑enforcement standards.

What the New Test Looks Like

The FBI’s new physical fitness standard, announced in a June 2024 press release, expands upon the agency’s “Fit for Duty” program by adding a pull‑up component to the existing bench‑press, sit‑up, push‑up, and sprint tests. Every employee, regardless of rank or specialty, must now complete a minimum of three pull‑ups in 30 seconds, or else the agency will require them to undergo remedial training and risk reassignment—or, in the worst case, termination. The pull‑up requirement is calibrated to match the average male pull‑up performance in the FBI, which the agency says is “the best benchmark for ensuring that agents can physically handle the demands of the field.”

In the official FAQ posted on the FBI’s Fitness & Wellness portal, the agency notes that training resources—including instructional videos, on‑site assistance, and a 12‑week “Pull‑Up Prep” program—are being rolled out to help employees meet the new threshold. The FBI also cites a 2022 internal study that found a “gap in physical preparedness among certain demographics” and argues that the updated test will raise overall fitness levels and improve operational safety.

The Political Divide

Sen. Patel, who represents a heavily conservative district in the heartland, has publicly called the new standard “discriminatory” and “unnecessarily punitive.” In a statement released on the Senate’s website, he said, “This test ignores the biological differences that exist between men and women. By forcing women to meet a pull‑up benchmark that was originally designed for men, the FBI is effectively setting a higher bar for a group that historically faces fewer physical demands in most investigative roles.” Patel further argues that the pull‑up requirement is “a costly way to eliminate women from high‑profile assignments without any evidence that pull‑ups correlate with job performance.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono, on the other hand, stands firmly in support of the new standard. She says, “The FBI is a federal agency that protects the safety and security of the nation. Physical readiness is a non‑negotiable part of that mission. This test—while rigorous—is necessary to ensure that all agents can perform under stress.” Hirono adds that the FBI’s push for higher standards is part of a broader effort to modernize the agency in the wake of the 2023 FBI shooting and other high‑profile security incidents. “If the FBI can’t ensure its employees are physically ready for the unpredictable nature of their work, we’re all at risk.”

The debate has attracted bipartisan attention. Some Republican lawmakers have joined Patel in calling for a review of the standard, citing concerns about employee morale and potential lawsuits. Meanwhile, Democratic senators—including Hirono’s colleague, Sen. Tommy Thompson (D‑NY)—have defended the standard as a step toward a more professional and capable law‑enforcement workforce.

The Human Impact

At the heart of the controversy are the women who will be impacted most by the new test. According to a May 2024 employee survey released by the FBI, roughly 18% of female agents reported that they would not meet the pull‑up requirement without significant training. Many of them expressed frustration at what they view as an overemphasis on a single measure of strength that doesn’t translate to day‑to‑day investigative work.

A group of female agents from the Washington, D.C., field office formed an informal “Pull‑Up Prep” club in response to the announcement. The group meets twice a week to practice the exercise and shares training videos. “It’s not about making us look like men,” says one agent, who asked to remain anonymous, “but about ensuring that we’re ready for anything. If that means doing pull‑ups, then that’s what we’ll do.”

The FBI has responded by offering an expanded “Fitness for All” program, which includes yoga, cardio, and strength training options. The agency’s spokesperson also said the agency will track the number of employees who fail the pull‑up test and use that data to adjust training resources.

Looking Ahead

The Senate Judiciary Committee is slated to hold a hearing on June 30 to discuss the FBI’s new fitness standard. Analysts predict that the hearing will become a flashpoint for the broader debate over federal law‑enforcement standards and the role of physical fitness in modern policing.

While the FBI maintains that the new test is evidence‑based and will improve agency readiness, critics fear it could disproportionately affect women, potentially driving them out of the profession or into less demanding assignments. Conversely, supporters argue that a unified, rigorous fitness standard is essential for a secure nation.

Whatever the outcome, the clash between Senator Patel and Senator Hirono underscores the complex intersection of policy, gender equity, and public safety that will continue to shape the federal law‑enforcement landscape for years to come.