Commentary
The US administration sees scientific evidence as an optional, flexible handmaid to the more vital business of masculinity, says this science commentator for the Financial Times.
US defence secretary Pete Hegseth announced last week that he was introducing testosterone screening for American soldiers to create a “High-T” fighting force at the “leading edge of lethality”. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
23 Jul 2026 05:59AM
LONDON: What looked at first like a parody has turned out to be true. Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, announced last week he was introducing testosterone screening for American soldiers to create a “High-T” fighting force at the “leading edge of lethality”.Troops aged 30 and over - including women - would be routinely screened, with younger members able to opt in. Those falling short would be offered optional testosterone replacement therapy. Hormone experts question the wisdom of the scheme, not least because of the potential for harm, including to fertility.But it is revealing of how the current administration applies scientific evidence to health issues: as an optional, flexible handmaid to the more vital business of wellness, masculinity and “looksmaxxing”, the online trend fixated on physical perfection. There is an intriguing crossover between science-sceptical MAGA circles; the manosphere, made up of social media influencers that offer young men tips on relationships, power dynamics and fitness; and the online market for loosely regulated substances such as peptides, supplements, weight-loss pills and hormones.
