Hegseth launches testosterone screening for the military

Jul 17, 2026

The military is rolling out a new testosterone-testing program for troops, and it's drawing mockery for looking a lot like the hormone therapy the same administration bans for transgender people.

  • All service members over 30 will be tested for low testosterone every year, with those under 30 able to opt in.
  • Anyone found low can choose testosterone replacement therapy — the same hormone treatment used in gender-affirming care the administration otherwise opposes.
  • Doctors say routine testosterone screening isn't standard medicine; levels vary widely and usually only dip slowly with age, and diet, sleep, and exercise matter more.
  • Critics call it an insult to troops and a waste, since most service members aren't even in combat roles.
  • There are also questions about who is running the tests and whether a contractor stands to profit.

Outlook: Expect pushback from Democrats and medical groups, plus scrutiny over how the program is run and who benefits.

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