In brief
In a video posted to X, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the military will start annual testosterone testing for all soldiers aged 30 and older, with younger members able to request checks voluntarily. Troops with deficient levels will receive optional hormone replacement therapy to restore strength, endurance and long-term health. The initiative, branded the “High‑T Department,” is part of a broader effort to comply with new FDA guidelines that relax restrictions on testosterone prescription and remove safety labels from product texts. Experts caution that therapy should only be given when symptoms warrant it, as improper use risks infertility and cardiovascular complications.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced a new initiative that will begin testing the testosterone levels of U.S. soldiers, a move he says will help restore and optimize their capabilities.
In an X video titled "High‑T Department," Hegseth said he is authorising a screening programme that will ensure troops have the "right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best." He explained that personnel aged 30 and older will be screened annually, while younger soldiers may request testing. Those found to have low levels will be offered voluntary testosterone replacement therapy.
The program is part of a broader push for better medical care for servicemembers. "We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world," Hegseth added. He emphasized that ensuring long‑term health keeps soldiers strong and resilient, "not just for your next deployment but for the rest of your life so that you can thrive long after you take off the uniform."
Hegseth clarified that the program is "not about artificial enhancement." He also warned that taking testosterone without a doctor’s prescription for non‑medical reasons—such as muscle enhancement—is strictly prohibited.
The Pentagon’s spokesperson, Sean Parnell, noted that the mandatory screening will be effective immediately for all active‑duty and reserve personnel aged 30 and older. "The protocol will enable the Department to establish a comprehensive baseline and offer targeted testosterone therapy, ensuring that it sustains a healthy, capable, and decisively dominant fighting force," Parnell said.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expert Dr. Mohit Khera, who chaired last year’s panel on testosterone screening in the military, told the BBC that all men over 30 should be screened because it is a key indicator of overall health. He highlighted that many young men have low testosterone, a disadvantage in terms of muscle mass and energy that can impact combat readiness. However, Khera stressed that therapy should only be given to those presenting genuine symptoms.
Benefits of hormone replacement therapy include increased muscle mass, decreased fat deposition, and reduced risk of depression, and it may also improve bone mineral density over time. Yet, Khera warned that testosterone can lead to infertility in men in their reproductive years and may have a theoretical cardiovascular risk.
The announcement follows moves by the current administration to remove barriers for medical professionals to prescribe testosterone, with Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. citing a national "fertility crisis" as justification. The FDA last month sought to eliminate safety and effectiveness language from testosterone product labeling and to relax prescribing limits.
