US Defence Secretary Orders Testosterone Checks for Troops Over 30
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a rather unusual new policy for his troops. From now on, American military personnel aged 30 and above will be required to undergo annual testing of their testosterone hormone levels. According to Al Jazeera, the policy was announced directly by Hegseth in a video message uploaded to the platform X on Wednesday.
The hormone screening will be incorporated into the periodic health assessments (annual medical check-ups) that soldiers already routinely undergo. The test will be mandatory for members aged 30 and above, while those under 30 may take part on an optional basis.
Should the results show low testosterone levels, soldiers will be free to choose whether or not to pursue medical treatment, such as testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
Hegseth stressed that the move is not intended to create “super soldiers” with the help of artificial substances, but rather to maintain troops’ natural fitness.
“This initiative is not about artificial enhancement. It’s about restoring and optimising your natural capability, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation needed to fight,” Hegseth said.
The issue has in fact long been on the Pentagon’s radar. The 2025 US defence budget law (NDAA) even mandated that the Defence Secretary report to Congress on the military healthcare system’s readiness to handle low testosterone problems.
The age threshold of 30 is not without basis. According to data from the Mayo Clinic, testosterone levels in men decline naturally with age—by roughly 1% each year after the age of 30 or 40.
The hormone screening policy is Hegseth’s latest step in a sweeping overhaul of US military physical standards. The former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran is well known for his vocal commitment to restoring a tough “warrior ethos”.
Previously, in a speech before hundreds of senior officers in September, Hegseth made the blunt statement that he no longer wished to see “bearded” or “overweight” troops within the ranks of the US military.
Drawing Fierce Criticism: Compared to “Transgender Therapy”
Although the stated aim is fitness, the announcement immediately sparked controversy and sharp criticism from Democratic politicians. Some view the policy as contradictory, given Hegseth’s staunch opposition to transgender personnel serving in the military.
Senator Tammy Duckworth derided the policy.
“To me, this sounds a lot like gender-affirming care.”
Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan also commented caustically, suggesting that Hegseth appeared to be taking his cues from the gender-biased corners of the internet known as the manosphere.
Both female politicians also demanded that hormone screening should not focus solely on men. They urged that testing be extended to female service members as well, given the high rates of infertility among women in the military, an issue that remains under-recognised to this day.