Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that he is rolling out a new screening program for "testosterone deficiency" among troops, calling it necessary to allow service members to operate at their "absolute best."
The screenings will be conducted annually as part of service members' required medical screenings for those 30 and older, according to his announcement. Troops under 30 can volunteer to be tested. Hegseth said receiving testosterone replacement therapy would be voluntary.
In a video on social media, Hegseth referred to keeping troops "strong, resilient and capable" and said the rigors of the modern battlefield demand "maximum psychological and mental readiness." The Pentagon did not respond when asked what specific conditions the policy was designed to address.
The move comes as other Trump administration officials have begun advocating for men to have easier access to testosterone replacement therapies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and others are moving to make such treatments more accessible, though critics note the messaging blends established science with broader claims that medical experts say lack solid evidence.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative supporters of the initiative point to recent scientific developments supporting testosterone therapy. The FDA last year removed a boxed warning about possible risks of heart attack and stroke from testosterone medications, and last month proposed easing prescribing limits on gels, pills, patches and injections.
Administration officials have framed the policy as part of a broader "Make America Healthy Again" effort led by Kennedy. Proponents argue that optimizing troop hormone levels improves military readiness and individual service member quality of life.
Republican lawmakers have largely supported Hegseth's medical policy changes for the military, which also include repealing the flu vaccine mandate in April citing "medical autonomy." A June flu outbreak at Air Force boot camp sickened nearly 300 people.
What the Left Is Saying
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, a Pennsylvania Democrat and Air Force veteran on the House Armed Services Committee, said the "announcement proves that Secretary Hegseth takes direction from the far corners of the manosphere." She called for testosterone testing to be available for both men and women.
"I hope that servicewomen will be afforded access to the same resources to enable them too to be the most elite warriors," Houlahan said. The congresswoman's office confirmed she supports expanding hormone evaluation access broadly, including for female troops experiencing menopause-related symptoms.
Other Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about whether this represents appropriate use of military medical resources and whether the policy could affect retention or recruitment outcomes for women in uniform.
What the Numbers Show
Testosterone levels in men decline naturally with age and are linked to issues including erectile dysfunction, low libido, mood changes and weight gain. Current medical guidelines generally recommend against blanket testing of testosterone levels.
Doctors typically advise discussing testosterone therapy with men who have troubling symptoms and documented low hormone levels on two separate morning blood tests after fasting. Testing is challenging because testosterone fluctuates throughout the day.
NIH studies in older men found that taking testosterone improved erectile dysfunction, libido and sexual measures, with small effects on mood. The research showed little or no improvement in fatigue, memory or overall well-being. Other studies indicate potential benefits for muscle-building, strength and bone density.
Special operations troops have faced scrutiny for performance-enhancing substance use. A Navy SEAL recruit died during training in 2022; investigators discovered substances including testosterone in his possession, revealing more widespread drug use than previously acknowledged. The Navy subsequently implemented its own drug-testing program.
The Bottom Line
The policy represents a shift toward broader hormone screening in the military at a time when the Trump administration is working to ease access to testosterone therapies across the civilian population as well. Questions remain about whether female service members will have comparable access to hormone evaluation and treatment options.
Medical experts continue to debate how to diagnose testosterone deficiency and whether blanket screening programs are appropriate, versus targeted testing for symptomatic patients. The Pentagon has not specified what research or academic studies underpin the new military initiative.
What happens next: Watch for implementation guidelines from the Defense Health Agency, potential Congressional oversight hearings on the policy's scope and costs, and whether female troops will be included in any hormone therapy access provisions.