US to Check Troops' 'Masculinity Hormone', Will Offer Therapy if Low
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has launched a new policy requiring annual testosterone level checks for military personnel aged 30 and above. Soldiers found to be deficient in the hormone will subsequently be offered testosterone replacement therapy (TRT).
The policy was announced by Hegseth via a nearly three-minute video uploaded to platform X, titled ‘The High-T Department of War’. According to Hegseth, the programme is not aimed at artificially enhancing soldiers’ capabilities, but rather restoring hormone levels to normal to maintain combat readiness.
‘This is not about artificial enhancement. It’s about restoring and optimising the natural abilities of warriors, protecting their long-term health, and ensuring they have the biological foundation needed to remain combat-ready,’ Hegseth stated. He explained that the hormone therapy is voluntary and will only be administered based on a medical professional’s recommendation after test results indicate a testosterone deficiency. The policy is part of the Trump administration’s military reform agenda, which emphasises improving combat readiness and personnel fitness.
However, the Pentagon did not explain the scientific basis underpinning the policy when asked by reporters. The department merely referred to Hegseth’s statement that the modern battlefield demands maximum physical and mental readiness. The Pentagon also did not answer whether similar checks would be conducted on female soldiers to detect oestrogen decline. Medically, men’s testosterone levels do tend to decrease with age, potentially triggering issues such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, mood swings, and weight gain. However, several National Institutes of Health (NIH) studies indicate that while testosterone therapy can help improve libido and some mood disorders, its benefits for physical endurance, cognitive ability, and overall health remain limited.
The Trump administration has recently been pushing for broader use of testosterone therapy. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has even supported loosening regulations on testosterone medication, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing simplified prescription requirements for the therapy.
Hegseth’s policy immediately drew criticism from Democratic politicians. They argue the move contradicts the administration’s hardline stance against various forms of gender-affirming care for transgender military personnel. Senator Tammy Duckworth mocked the proposed testosterone therapy, saying, ‘I think this sounds like gender-affirming care.’ Democratic Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan also criticised the policy, assessing that Hegseth is overly influenced by conservative masculine groups or the ‘manosphere’. Meanwhile, Senator Cory Booker argued the measure does not reflect the right priorities, especially as the US is still engaged in conflict with Iran. ‘The fact that in the midst of this challenging war, the Defence Secretary is doing this makes us a laughing stock to the world. This is absolutely absurd,’ Booker said.