The U.S. armed forces are set to implement a new medical mandate requiring annual testosterone level screenings for all active-duty personnel aged 30 and older. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled the policy on Wednesday in a video message shared on X, framing the change as a routine addition to the annual physical examinations troops already undergo. Service members under 30 will have the option to undergo testing but will not be mandated to do so.
"This initiative, it’s not about artificial enhancement. It’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight." — Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary
Secretary Hegseth stated that the initiative is designed to ensure service members possess optimal testosterone levels to perform at their peak. "I’m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best," Hegseth announced. He explicitly clarified that participation in any recommended treatment stemming from a diagnosis would be entirely voluntary. "If treatment is recommended, it’s entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy," he affirmed.
Hegseth further elaborated that the program is not intended for chemical enhancement but rather as a form of preventive medicine aimed at restoring and optimizing natural capabilities. "This initiative, it’s not about artificial enhancement," he said. "It’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight." He directly linked the policy to combat effectiveness, emphasizing the demanding nature of contemporary warfare. "The modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting," Hegseth commented. "It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness, and by addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality."
Support for the new policy quickly emerged from within the administration. HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brian Christine praised the move in a post on X, highlighting the benefits of balanced testosterone levels. He wrote that such levels contribute to "strength, endurance, healthy body composition, cognitive performance, mission readiness, and overall well-being—ensuring America’s fighting force is prepared to perform at its highest level."
However, the announcement met with criticism from some members of Congress. Representative Pramila Jayapal argued that the policy appears to contradict Secretary Hegseth’s previous stance on gender-related medical care within the military, noting his prior restrictions. On X, she contended that providing hormone therapy to men with low testosterone "is gender-affirming care and it completely debunks all of Republicans’ attacks on trans people." Arizona Senator Mark Kelly also voiced critical remarks during a CNN interview, dismissing the initiative as a misallocation of priorities. "It’s a weird idea," Kelly stated. "And what have we seen from this secretary of defense so far? We see him run around on a stage talking about lethality and killing people, now he’s talking about testosterone."
Several logistical and clinical questions regarding the new screening program remain unanswered. The Pentagon has not yet provided an exact start date for the screenings, nor has it indicated whether it will issue further clinical guidance. Officials have also not clarified whether women in uniform will be subject to similar testing.
Outside medical experts have expressed reservations about the necessity of widespread testosterone screening. Dr. Peter J. Snyder, who has led extensive NIH-backed studies on testosterone in older men, informed Newsweek that clinically low testosterone levels are found in only approximately 2 percent of men, even those approaching age 80. He suggested that such blanket testing is unusual by standard medical practices, typically being reserved for individuals already exhibiting symptoms. Dr. Snyder also pointed out practical challenges, noting that accurate testing requires fasted blood draws taken between 8 and 10 a.m. on three separate days. He questioned the feasibility of adhering to such a timeline within a military schedule, cautioning that it could increase the likelihood of false positives and unnecessary diagnoses.
While acknowledging that confirmed deficiency can lead to significant benefits, including improvements in sexual function, mobility, mood, and red blood cell counts, Dr. Snyder also highlighted potential risks associated with testosterone replacement therapy. He referenced the TRAVERSE trial, a large placebo-controlled study involving over 5,200 men, which linked treatment to risks such as atrial fibrillation, blood clots in the lungs, and bone fractures. Testosterone plays a crucial role in several functions vital for physical readiness, including muscle mass, bone strength, red blood cell production, and energy. The Endocrine Society recognizes that deficiency can result in fatigue, muscle weakness, reduced stamina, and mood disturbances, though it recommends treatment only when both testing and symptoms confirm a genuine shortfall. Common methods for replacement therapy include injections, topical gels, skin patches, and implanted pellets. Documented side effects range from acne and fluid retention to reduced fertility, breast tissue growth, and thickened blood, which can elevate the risk of clotting.
Current medical standards treat women differently in this context. Dr. Snyder unequivocally stated that "testosterone treatment is not approved for women under any circumstances," explaining that low levels in female patients are generally managed through lifestyle interventions such as strength training, dietary adjustments, and improved sleep habits, as hormone therapy can induce side effects like voice changes and unwanted hair growth.
The Pentagon's decision follows months of public discussions from HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. concerning male hormone health. In an April 2025 interview on Fox News, Kennedy asserted that "a teenager today, an American teenager, has less testosterone than a 68-year-old man," and claimed that "testosterone levels have dropped 50 percent from historic levels." Kennedy has publicly disclosed his own physician-supervised testosterone regimen as part of an anti-aging plan. While independent researchers have disputed certain aspects of Kennedy’s assertions, there is general consensus that average testosterone levels have indeed shown a downward trend over recent decades. Scientists continue to investigate the interplay of aging, lifestyle, and environmental factors contributing to this shift.
