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By Hannah Parry
Associate News Editor
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the Pentagon will begin requiring annual testosterone deficiency screenings for active-duty service members age 30 and older, saying the move is designed to improve military readiness and support long-term health.
The new policy, unveiled in a video posted to X, will make testosterone testing a standard part of the military's existing annual periodic health assessments for troops over 30. Service members younger than 30 will have the option to undergo the screening voluntarily.
"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 said in the video.
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The Department of Defense told Newsweek it had nothing to add to Hegseth's announcement when reached for comment.
Hegseth described the initiative as a health program rather than an effort to artificially boost military performance.
"This initiative, it's not about artificial enhancement," he said. "It's about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight."
"The modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting," Hegseth 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."
The Pentagon has not yet released additional details on when the new screening requirement will take effect across the military branches or whether additional medical guidance will accompany the rollout.
Admiral Brian Christine, MD, assistant secretary for health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), posted on X Wednesday: "I fully support Secretary Hegseth’s initiative at The Department of War in recognizing the importance of healthy testosterone levels in its war fighting men! Optimizing testosterone supports strength, endurance, healthy body composition, cognitive performance, mission readiness, and overall well-being—ensuring America’s fighting force is prepared to perform at its highest level."
Democrats were quick to point out that testosterone therapy was gender-affirming care—something Hegseth had banned last year along with new military accessions for people with a history of gender dysphoria.
Representative Pramila Jayapal wrote on X Wednesday, "The Secretary of Forever Wars, Pete Hegseth, just announced they are going to provide hormone therapy to male service members who don’t have enough testosterone. Let’s be clear: This is gender-affirming care and it completely debunks all of Republicans’ attacks on trans people."
In February 2025, Hegseth issued a Pentagon memo directing the military to pause “all unscheduled, scheduled, or planned medical procedures associated with affirming or facilitating a gender transition” for service members.
Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona also said on CNN Thursday night when asked about the announcement that "It's a weird idea. And what have we seen from this secretary of defense so far? We see him run around on a stage talking about lethality and killing people, now he's talking about testosterone. This isn't what we need—what we need is better leadership. And it starts at the top, it starts with the president, it starts with Pete Hegseth."
Who Will Be Impacted by the New Policy?
The new policy will apply to active-duty service members age 30 and older, who will be required to undergo annual testosterone deficiency screenings as part of their existing periodic health assessments. According to Hegseth, the screening will be added to the yearly medical evaluation already completed by military personnel.
Service members under the age of 30 will not be required to participate but will have the option to voluntarily receive the test. If a screening identifies low testosterone, any recommended treatment—including testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)—will remain optional.
"If treatment is recommended, it's entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy," Hegseth said.
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What Doctors Say
Dr. Peter J. Snyder, who led major NIH-funded testosterone trials in older men, told Newsweek that low testosterone was actually very rare, even up to age 79, with only a 2 percent incidence rate, meaning routine screening is never recommended.
"Screening is recommended only for symptoms suggestive of low testosterone," he said.
Snyder said that even if a service member was found to have a lower-than-average testosterone level, that is "never a reason for treatment of any condition."
"Testosterone measurement is recommended only for symptoms suggestive of low testosterone, and treatment is recommended only if the symptomatic man has blood testosterone levels below the lower limit of normal early in the morning on three occasions," he said.
He also raised concerns over the testing process, which he warned could be difficult in the military and more likely to lead to overdiagnosis. The screening involves a measurement at 8 to 10 a.m., fasted, on three separate mornings.
"How likely is that to occur in the military?" he asked.
For the few who are clinically confirmed low testosterone, Snyder explained that there were real benefits, from improvement in sexual interest, walking, mood and red blood cell count. But risks of the treatment are significant.
"Atrial fibrillation, pulmonary emboli and fractures, based on the TRAVERSE trial," he said, referencing the Testosterone Replacement Therapy for Assessment of Long-term Vascular Events and Efficacy Response trial, a major, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial involving over 5,200 men age 45 to 80.
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Will Female Soldiers Be Affected?
The Department of Defense declined to confirm to Newsweek if female soldiers will be included in the screening program.
Low testosterone can be an issue in women's health. Testosterone production in women occurs primarily in the ovaries and adrenal glands, although at significantly lower rates than in men, and when levels drop below their optimal range, women can suffer significant symptoms including fatigue, mood changes, poor sleep, low libido and sexual dysfunction.
However, low testosterone in women is nearly always treated with lifestyle modifications rather than drugs. These can include strength training, improved nutrition, adequate sleep and stress management. Testosterone therapy in women can have significant side effects, including hair growth changes and voice deepening.
Snyder told Newsweek that, "Testosterone treatment is not approved for women under any circumstances."
Hegseth's testosterone screening announcement comes amid broader scrutiny of his personnel decisions affecting female service members. In recent months, the defense secretary has intervened in multiple Navy promotion lists, blocking the advancement of several senior officers, including women. The Pentagon has maintained that promotions are based on merit, but critics argue that the moves could limit opportunities for advancement for women and minority officers.
RFK Jr.'s Warning on Testosterone Levels
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly raised concerns about declining testosterone levels among American men, making the issue a key part of his broader focus on men’s health since becoming secretary of HHS.
One of Kennedy’s most widely cited claims came during an April 2025 appearance on Fox News, when he said: “A teenager today, an American teenager, has less testosterone than a 68-year-old man.” Kennedy also claimed that “testosterone levels have dropped 50 percent from historic levels,” linking the decline to what he described as a broader public health crisis involving chronic disease, fertility issues and declining male health.
The remarks came as Kennedy discussed research on sperm counts and reproductive health, arguing that changes in hormone levels reflected deeper environmental and lifestyle problems. He has frequently pointed to declining testosterone as evidence that American men are facing a significant biological shift.
However, experts have challenged some of Kennedy’s specific claims. While several studies have suggested that average testosterone levels among men have declined over recent decades, researchers have questioned whether the data supports the exact comparison between teenagers and 68-year-old men. The relationship between testosterone, aging, health conditions, obesity, environmental exposures and lifestyle factors remains an active area of scientific research.
Kennedy has also spoken publicly about his own use of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). He has said he follows an “anti-aging protocol” prescribed by his physician that includes medically supervised testosterone treatment, exercise and supplements.
How Does Testosterone Affect Physical Performance?
Testosterone is a hormone that plays a key role in muscle mass, bone density, red blood cell production, sex drive and energy levels. In men, testosterone levels naturally decline with age, though the rate and extent of that decline varies between individuals.
According to the Endocrine Society, low testosterone can contribute to symptoms such as fatigue, reduced muscle strength, decreased endurance, lower libido and depressed mood in some people. For individuals with clinically diagnosed testosterone deficiency, treatment may improve energy, muscle mass, sexual function and overall quality of life. However, experts generally recommend treatment only when low testosterone is confirmed through testing and accompanied by symptoms.
Are There Risks to Taking Testosterone Replacement Therapy?
While testosterone replacement therapy can benefit people with medically confirmed testosterone deficiency, it also carries potential risks and side effects.
Possible side effects include acne, fluid retention, infertility due to reduced sperm production, enlargement of breast tissue and an increase in red blood cell counts, which can raise the risk of blood clots in some patients. Testosterone therapy may also worsen untreated sleep apnea and requires monitoring of prostate health in older men.
Medical organizations, including the Endocrine Society, recommend that testosterone replacement therapy be prescribed only after a thorough medical evaluation and that patients receiving treatment undergo regular follow-up testing to monitor hormone levels and potential side effects.
What Is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT)?
Testosterone replacement therapy, commonly known as TRT, is a medical treatment designed to restore testosterone levels in people who have clinically confirmed testosterone deficiency, a condition in which the body does not produce enough of the hormone.
The treatment can be delivered in several forms, including injections, gels, creams, patches and implantable pellets. However, medical experts generally emphasize that TRT is not intended for people simply because their testosterone levels are lower than average. Treatment is typically considered only when a patient has symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency and repeated blood tests confirm abnormally low levels.
Like any medical treatment, TRT carries potential risks. Possible side effects include increased red blood cell counts, acne, fluid retention, reduced sperm production and infertility. Some studies have also examined potential cardiovascular risks associated with testosterone therapy, meaning patients receiving TRT are typically monitored by healthcare providers.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Gabe Whisnant, Anna Commander, Sam Wilson and Edward T. Cummins.
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