US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced mandatory annual testosterone screening for military personnel aged 30 and above, saying the initiative is designed to identify hormone deficiencies that could affect the health and operational readiness of service members.
Under the new policy unveiled on Wednesday, testosterone testing will become part of routine annual medical examinations for troops aged 30 years and older, while younger personnel will be allowed to request screening voluntarily.
Hegseth said service members diagnosed with low testosterone would be offered testosterone replacement therapy on a voluntary basis to help maintain peak physical performance.
“Because it’s well-established science that as we age, testosterone levels often naturally drop,” Hegseth said in a video message.
He added that the objective of the programme was to ensure troops have “the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.”
The announcement comes amid broader changes to US health policy regarding hormone treatments.
Last month, the US Department of Health and Human Services said it would seek to ease restrictions on testosterone replacement therapy, including removing limits on its use for men experiencing age-related declines in testosterone levels.
However, the Pentagon’s latest policy immediately drew criticism from Democratic lawmakers, who argued that it contradicted the administration’s ban on transgender military personnel, many of whom rely on hormone therapy.
Democratic Congresswoman Summer Lee questioned the consistency of the policy.
“So now y’all support gender-affirming care?”
Senator Tammy Duckworth also criticised the announcement, saying: “Sounds like gender-affirming care to me.”
The testosterone screening programme is expected to become part of the US military’s annual health assessment process, with participation in any hormone replacement treatment remaining voluntary for eligible service members.
Erizia Rubyjeana
