US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the Pentagon will require all service members aged 30 and older to undergo annual screening for testosterone deficiency, with those under 30 able to volunteer. In a video posted on social media, Hegseth said the initiative was intended to ensure troops have “the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best” and framed the optional testosterone replacement therapy as a means of “restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities” rather than artificial enhancement. The Pentagon did not specify whether the policy applies to female personnel, and declined to provide details on the scientific studies underpinning the move.

The announcement aligns with a broader push by the Trump administration to expand access to testosterone therapies. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly advocated for the hormone’s use, and the Food and Drug Administration last month proposed easing prescription restrictions on testosterone gels, pills and injections, while also removing a longstanding warning about cardiovascular risks. Hegseth, who has rebranded the Defence Department as the “Department of War,” has previously imposed physical fitness standards based on male benchmarks, banned transgender service members, and criticised the presence of overweight troops and bearded soldiers, measures that have drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

In Congress, Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq War veteran, described the screening programme as “gender-affirming care,” a reference to Hegseth’s opposition to hormone therapy for transgender troops. Representative Chrissy Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, said the policy “proves that Secretary Hegseth takes direction from the far corners of the manosphere.” Both called for hormone screenings to be extended to all service members, including women. Medical opinion remains divided: some urologists support testing symptomatic men over 30, noting that low testosterone can affect muscle mass, energy and mood, but caution that replacement therapy carries risks including infertility and elevated red blood cell counts. The special operations community has faced scrutiny in recent years over the use of testosterone and similar substances; a 2022 death of a Navy SEAL recruit revealed widespread unauthorised use, prompting the Navy to launch a drug-testing programme for hormone-related muscle-growth substances.

French and German media have characterised the policy as part of what they term Hegseth’s “virilist” vision for the armed forces, citing his past speeches demanding “the highest male standard” for combat roles. The Pentagon has said the mandatory screening takes effect immediately for all active-duty and reserve personnel over 30. The FDA’s proposed rule changes on testosterone prescribing remain under review, while the Defence Department is expected to brief Congress on low testosterone in the military as required by the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.