Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new policy on Monday to begin screening U.S. military personnel for testosterone deficiency. The initiative will include testing for active-duty service members during routine health assessments to identify individuals with hormone levels below the clinical baseline.
Hegseth stated that the program is intended to address physical readiness and long-term health within the armed forces. Under the new guidelines, personnel identified with deficiencies may be eligible for hormone replacement therapy or other medical interventions through the military health system.
The Department of Defense has not yet provided a specific timeline for the full implementation of the screening across all branches. Military medical officials are expected to develop standardized protocols for how the data will be managed and how treatments will be administered to ensure combat effectiveness.
Critics of the policy have raised concerns regarding the cost of widespread testing and the potential for medical over-reliance on supplements. Supporters argue that addressing hormonal imbalances is a necessary step in modernizing military healthcare and improving the physical performance of troops.