New Delhi: US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth Wednesday announced a new annual testosterone-screening programme for military personnel aged 30 and above.
The tests will be incorporated into the periodic health assessments of service members, while troops below 30 will be allowed to request them voluntarily. Those found to have low testosterone will have the choice to undergo testosterone replacement therapy. The treatment would not be compulsory, Hegseth said.It remains unclear, however, whether hormone screening will be restricted to male service members or apply to female personnel as well.
In a video posted on X, Hegseth said that the policy was being implemented for US troops to make sure they “have the right testosterone levels” to operate at their “absolute best”.“We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this programme delivers on that obligation,” he added.
The High-T Department of War. pic.twitter.com/hlAUq3j2cD— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) July 15, 2026
Calling the initiative part of a “High-T Department of War”, Hegseth said the military had a responsibility to ensure that troops remain “strong, resilient and capable” in face of the physical and psychological demands of the modern battlefield.According to Hegseth, the initiative is “not about artificial enhancement”. “It’s about restoring the natural capabilities of our warriors so they can remain on the leading edge of lethality,” he said.Testosterone levels, testing & treatment
