US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced a controversial new plan to screen all soldiers over 30 for low testosterone levels, promising that the programme would keep the US army 'on the leading edge of lethality'. In a nearly three-minute video, the former Fox News personality outlined his vision for a 'High-T' Department of War, where service members would be tested annually to ensure they have 'the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best.'
Mandatory Screening for Older Troops
Under the new policy, all army personnel over the age of 30 will be required to undergo testosterone checks as part of their annual health assessment. Hegseth acknowledged that 'as we age, testosterone levels often naturally drop,' but argued that the screening would help 'restore and optimize your natural capabilities.' For soldiers under 30, the test is optional, and any recommended treatment—including testosterone replacement therapy—would be voluntary.
'At the Department of War, we have the most elite warriors on the face of the Earth,' Hegseth said in the video. 'We demand your all, and you give it. But while we invest heavily in our weapons systems, platforms, and gear, our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter.'
Comparisons to Gender-Affirming Care
The plan has drawn immediate mockery online, with critics comparing it to gender-affirming care for transgender individuals—a stark contrast to Hegseth's well-known anti-trans stance. One social media user wrote, 'This sounds weirdly gender affirming,' while another quipped, 'So basically, we're providing "gender-affirming care" so "warfighters" can become the sex they were born.' A third user shared a video of Hegseth struggling to lift weights, captioning it, 'Sure, dude.'
When asked about the apparent contradiction, the Pentagon declined to comment further, referring only to Hegseth's remarks in the video that the programme is about keeping troops 'strong, resilient and capable' and that the modern battlefield demands 'maximum psychological and mental readiness.'
Performance Enhancement Concerns
Hegseth insisted that the initiative is 'not about artificial enhancement,' despite the programme's focus on boosting testosterone levels. However, the announcement comes amid growing scrutiny of testosterone use among special operations forces. In 2022, the death of a Navy SEAL recruit during training led to the discovery of testosterone and other performance-enhancing substances in his possession, revealing widespread drug use within elite units. A year later, the Navy implemented a drug-testing programme to screen for 'any hormonal substance, chemically or pharmacologically related to testosterone, that promotes muscle growth.'
The Pentagon has not clarified whether female troops will be included in the screening or if they will be evaluated for oestrogen levels as they approach perimenopause, stating only that it had 'no further comment beyond Hegseth's statements.'
