By
Nia Prater,
Intelligencer staff writer, who covers New York politics
When Pete Hegseth took the helm of the Department of Defense, he vowed to “restore the warrior ethos” to the military and began an overhaul of the agency with a focus on lethality and overt masculinity. The changes have ranged from an unofficial rebranding to the “Department of War” to a crackdown on servicemembers’ facial hair. And recently, the Defense secretary has upped the macho quotient to absurd new levels.
On Wednesday, Hegseth announced the Pentagon would begin screening servicemembers ages 30 and older for “testosterone deficiency” as part of their annual health assessment. Those younger than 30 will be able to opt into the testing if they so choose, and servicemembers who are recommended for treatment can decide whether to undergo testosterone-replacement therapy.
