Hegseth Orders Annual Testosterone Screenings For Service Members

War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the Department of War is launching a new annual screening program for testosterone deficiency in service members aged 30 and older, calling it part of an effort to improve warfighter readiness and long-term health.

In a video announcing the initiative, Hegseth said the military’s greatest advantage is not its weapons or equipment but “the individual warfighter.”

“We have the most elite warriors on the face of the Earth,” Hegseth said. “Every single day, you are pushed to your absolute physical and mental limits to master the profession of arms.”

To help maintain that advantage, Hegseth said service members aged 30 and older will receive an annual testosterone deficiency screening as part of their routine Periodic Health Assessment. He noted that the yearly health assessment is already required and that the department is simply adding an additional screening. Service members under 30 will also be able to request the test voluntarily.

“If treatment is recommended, it’s entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth emphasized that the initiative is intended to address medically identified deficiencies rather than enhance performance.

“This initiative is not about artificial enhancement,” he said. “It’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight.”

The war secretary said testosterone levels naturally decline with age, and the screenings will be conducted under the supervision of military medical professionals.

“We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this program delivers on that obligation,” Hegseth said.

Hegseth argued that identifying health issues earlier would improve military readiness while also benefiting service members after they leave the military.

“The modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting,” he said. “It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness. By addressing these health markers early, we’re keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation.”