Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War of the United States, announced this Wednesday a new testosterone deficiency screening program for military personnel, with mandatory annual testing for all service members over 30 years old.
The announcement came through a video posted on their X account titled «The High-T Department of War», directly referencing a social media trend that promotes elevated levels of testosterone as symbols of masculinity and physical performance.
According to Hegseth, the tests will be included in the regular medical evaluations that soldiers undergo each year.
Military personnel under 30 years of age may voluntarily undergo the examination, and if hormone replacement therapy is recommended, the treatment will be completely optional.
"I authorize a new program for the detection of testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring that they have adequate levels of testosterone to perform at their best," the official stated in the video.
Hegseth insisted that the initiative does not aim for an artificial enhancement: "It is about restoring and optimizing their natural abilities, protecting their longevity, and ensuring they have the biological foundation necessary to sustain the fight."
The announcement immediately sparked medical and political controversy. Current clinical guidelines discourage widespread testosterone testing for the entire population and recommend it only for men with concerning symptoms and confirmed low levels in two separate tests.
Furthermore, the levels of this hormone fluctuate throughout the day and must be measured in a fasted state and in the morning for accuracy, which complicates the feasibility of a mass screening program.
The Department of War —a name adopted following an executive order from President Donald Trump signed on September 5, 2025, although the permanent legal change still requires Congressional approval— did not specify what studies support the measure nor clarified whether female service members, who make up 17% of the active personnel, would be evaluated for equivalent hormonal deficiencies.
The Democratic representative Chrissy Houlahan (Pennsylvania), a veteran of the Air Force, was one of the most critical voices.
"The announcement proves that Secretary Hegseth is following orders from the extremes of the manosphere," he stated, demanding that the evidence also be made available to women in active service.
The program falls within a series of directives that Hegseth has promoted since his confirmation as secretary in January 2025 with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President JD Vance, aimed at imposing what he terms the "highest male standard" in the Armed Forces.
Among these measures are the elimination of diversity and inclusion policies, the prohibition of beards and long hair, mandatory physical exams twice a year, and the review of military education to eliminate the so-called "gender ideology," announced in a meeting with hundreds of senior leaders in Quantico on October 1, 2025.
Houlahan directly confronted Hegseth last Thursday during a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee, where the secretary dodged direct questions regarding the capabilities of women in the military.
On that same day, the legislator voted against granting $150 billion to the Department of War, labeling Hegseth as "reckless, incompetent, and unrepentant."
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