Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Wednesday that the U.S. military will implement mandatory annual testosterone screenings for all service members aged 30 and older. Under the new policy, troops who test below designated levels will be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy. Hegseth stated the initiative aims to address natural hormonal declines that may impact physical health and operational performance.
The Department of Defense policy will integrate these screenings into regular annual medical exams. Service members under the age of 30 will also be eligible to request the testing on a voluntary basis. The announcement follows recent moves by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to reduce restrictions on testosterone treatments for men with age-related deficiencies.
The initiative has drawn criticism from several Democratic lawmakers. Representative Summer Lee and Senator Tammy Duckworth both characterized the policy as a form of "gender-affirming care," comparing it to medical treatments used by transgender individuals. Critics noted that the administration has previously supported restrictions on transgender service members who utilize similar hormone therapies.