Pete Hegseth announces mandatory testosterone screening for older US troops

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday, 15 July 2026, a mandatory screening program for testosterone deficiency affecting military personnel. Under the new policy, all service members aged 30 and older will undergo annual hormone testing as part of their routine periodic health assessments. Those under the age of 30 may elect to participate in the screenings voluntarily.

Hegseth presented the initiative in a social media video captioned "High-T Department," characterizing the move as an effort to ensure troops remain "strong, resilient and capable" for the demands of the modern battlefield. He stated that the program is intended to allow service members to operate at their "absolute best" and emphasized that any subsequent hormone replacement therapy offered to those identified with deficiencies would be entirely voluntary.

Media additions

The Pentagon clarified through spokesman Sean Parnell that the protocol is effective immediately for both active-duty and reserve personnel. According to the Department of Defense, the objective is to establish a comprehensive health baseline to maintain a "decisively dominant fighting force."

Medical and Political Controversy

The announcement has triggered a sharp divide among lawmakers and medical professionals. Critics, including Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Chrissy Houlahan, questioned the focus on male hormone levels, noting that Hegseth has previously expressed opposition to women serving in combat roles. Both lawmakers urged the Pentagon to extend hormone screening to female service members, suggesting it could assist in identifying fertility issues earlier. Duckworth characterized the policy as appearing similar to "gender-affirming care," a practice the current administration has vocally opposed.

Dr. Mohit Khera, a professor of urology at the Baylor College of Medicine who led a recent FDA expert panel on the subject, noted that while testosterone levels are a marker of overall health, indiscriminate prescribing carries risks. You have to be careful not to just give someone testosterone unless they do have some kind of symptoms, Khera told the BBC, adding that testosterone therapy can impact fertility and carry potential cardiovascular implications.

Context and Precedent

The policy arrives amid a broader push within the Trump administration to ease access to testosterone treatments. Last month, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed relaxing prescribing limits for testosterone gels, pills, and injections, which are currently labeled primarily for the treatment of hypogonadism. While some proponents, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have advocated for wider access to hormone therapy to address health and fertility concerns, these uses remain outside standard medical consensus for many patient populations.

The military has faced previous internal scrutiny regarding performance-enhancing drugs. Following the 2022 death of a Navy SEAL recruit, investigations revealed that substance use, including testosterone, was more prevalent within elite special operations programs than previously reported. While Hegseth maintained that his new initiative is "not about artificial enhancement," the Pentagon did not provide specific research or academic studies underpinning the decision to implement blanket testing.

The initiative follows several other medical policy shifts under Hegseth’s leadership, including the repeal of the military’s flu vaccine mandate in April 2026, which he justified by citing "medical autonomy." A subsequent flu outbreak occurred at a U.S. Air Force training facility in June.

What to Watch Next

• Implementation: The Pentagon has yet to clarify if the Department of Defense will cover the costs of voluntary testosterone replacement therapy for those who opt for treatment.
• Scope of Coverage: It remains unclear if or how the policy will address female personnel or if specific screenings for other hormonal conditions, such as those related to perimenopause, will be introduced.
• Congressional Oversight: Members of the Senate Armed Services Committee are expected to press for briefings on the medical protocols and research evidence supporting this shift in military health standards.