On Wednesday, Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense will introduce a new screening program to detect testosterone deficiency in soldiers aged 30 and older.
In a video shared on X, the defense secretary detailed the initiative, stating that the goal is to ensure service members maintain optimal hormone levels to perform effectively in demanding environments.
“I’m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best,” Hegseth stated in the video.
“As we know, the modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting,” he continued. “It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness, and by addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality, and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation—the absolute best.”
Under the new guidelines, service members aged 30 and above will undergo annual screenings as part of their standard health assessments. Personnel under 30 will have the option to opt into the program. Any medical treatments, such as testosterone replacement therapy, will remain voluntary and are intended to restore and optimize natural physical capabilities.
The initiative focuses on long-term wellness, aiming to ensure troops remain strong and resilient throughout their lives. Hegseth emphasized that the program is part of the department’s broader commitment to providing elite medical care and maintaining the physical and mental readiness necessary for modern combat operations.
Hegseth’s announcement follows similar comments from other members of the administration regarding testosterone levels. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously discussed his own anti-aging protocols and has made various claims regarding declining testosterone levels in younger populations.
Recent research published in the journal Social Science and Medicine suggests that young men are increasingly targeted by wellness companies and influencers promoting hormone testing and treatments, even though medical professionals often note that such screenings are medically unnecessary for most individuals in that age demographic.