US Military Launches Testosterone Screening to Boost Soldier Performance

Sun Sep 06 2026 05:26:14 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces a new program to test and potentially replace testosterone in service members, aiming to enhance readiness and long‑term health.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a new testosterone screening program for U.S. service members, with those 30 and older automatically screened and younger personnel able to request testing. Troops found to have low levels will be offered voluntary replacement therapy, a move that aligns with wider efforts in the Trump administration to broaden access to hormone treatments. Hegseth highlights the program as a way to restore and optimize soldiers’ physical capabilities while protecting long‑term health. Pentagon spokespersons emphasize that the protocol is non‑enhancing and that it seeks to maintain a capable, healthy fighting force. A recent FDA panel has outlined benefits such as increased muscle mass and reduced depression, while cautioning against potential infertility and cardiovascular risks.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new programme that will start testing the testosterone levels of U.S. service members, describing it as a way to restore and optimise their capabilities.

In a video posted on X titled “High‑T Department,” Hegseth said he is authorising a screening program to ensure troops have the right hormone levels to operate at their best.

Those aged 30 and older will be screened annually, while younger personnel can request testing. Soldiers with low levels will be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy.

The move comes as other members of the Trump administration push for expanded access to such therapies for military personnel.

"We owe our warriors the best medical care in the world, and this program delivers on that obligation," Hegseth said. "Taking care of your long‑term health means ensuring you remain strong, resilient and capable — not just for your next deployment, but for the rest of your life, so you can thrive long after you take off the uniform," he added.

Hegseth emphasised that the programme is “not about artificial enhancement” and that the use of testosterone for non‑medical reasons is strictly prohibited in the armed forces.

Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that the mandatory screening for testosterone deficiency will take effect immediately for all active‑duty and reserve component personnel aged 30 and older.

Dr Mohit Khera, who led an FDA expert panel last year on testosterone screening, told reporters that all men over 30 should be screened because testosterone is a key marker of overall current and future health.

He explained that low testosterone can compromise muscle mass and energy, which is a disadvantage in combat, but cautioned against indiscriminate treatment: “If young men take testosterone, it can make them infertile,” Khera said. He also noted possible cardiovascular risks.

Hegseth’s announcement follows Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr’s calls to remove barriers for prescribing testosterone, framing it as a solution to a national fertility crisis.

Last month, the FDA requested the removal of safety and effectiveness language from testosterone replacement therapy product labels and proposed loosening prescribing limits for the products.