US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced a new Department of Defense programme to screen soldiers aged 30 and above for testosterone deficiency, describing it as a way to support readiness and long-term health.

In a video posted on X on Wednesday, Hegseth said the department would authorise annual testing for “warfighters” aged 30 and over as part of their routine health assessments. He said service personnel under 30 would be able to opt in to the screening.

Hegseth said the move is intended to ensure troops have “right testosterone levels” to operate at their best, linking the programme to what he described as the demands of modern combat. He said addressing health indicators early would help maintain psychological and mental readiness, and that the initiative formed part of the department’s commitment to provide “elite medical care”.

Annual testing and voluntary treatment

Under the plan, annual tests would be carried out for eligible personnel over the age of 30. Hegseth said treatment, including testosterone replacement therapy, would be voluntary.

He said the programme is designed to “restore and optimise” capabilities and to prioritise long-term health, with the aim of keeping service members “strong and resilient” for their entire lives. The announcement also framed the screening as part of maintaining physical and mental readiness for modern combat.

Hegseth did not give further details on how the tests would be implemented beyond describing them as part of ongoing health assessments.

Medical body urges caution on diagnosis

The initiative comes as “low T” has become a prominent political topic in the US. It is not the first time figures in the Trump administration have discussed testosterone levels publicly.

In a statement, the American Urological Association said it appreciates the administration’s recognition of the importance of screening for testosterone deficiency. However, it cautioned that diagnosing testosterone deficiency should not rely on a single blood test.

The association said testosterone testing can provide a baseline value for people who need further evaluation, but that a diagnosis should be based on symptoms and two separate tests rather than one result.

“Low T” debate and gender care not addressed

Hegseth’s announcement did not address active duty women in the US military. According to the text, more than 231,000 women serve on active duty.

The wider debate around testosterone has been taken up across parts of the political right and online. The article says Robert F Kennedy Jr, the US health secretary, has spoken about testosterone as part of his personal anti-ageing approach, and warned in October that teenagers have significantly less testosterone than older men, despite saying the claim was not backed by evidence.

The report also points to right-leaning media commentary, including Tucker Carlson criticising what he described as a masculinity crisis in films such as The End of Men, alongside influencers promoting “T-maxxing” and direct-to-consumer testosterone injections.

Research cited from the journal Social Science & Medicine says young men are being targeted online by influencers and wellness companies promoting hormone tests and treatments as essential to being a “real man”, despite screening for low testosterone being medically unwarranted for most people in that age group.

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16 July 2026

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That would be good satire about Hegseth but it's real.

Hegseth is an investor in a testosterone boosting supplement snake oil company ❓

We're not at war, SILLY

Just the 5th day of warfare activity!

DEPARTMENT OF TRUMP DOUBLESPEAK 🤣

Edited July 15Jul 15 by SiSePuede419
❓

Hegseth thinking about other men’s testosterone levels.

Am I the only one seeing it?

Is anyone noticing how RFK jr looks so young and spry on testosterone injections?

Yeah, it helps to have high testosterone to murder your enemies before they murder you, I guess.

9 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Is anyone noticing how RFK jr looks so young and spry on testosterone injections?

He is very fit.

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

That would be good satire about Hegseth but it's real.

And he himself should take more Estrogen, making him calm and nice, probably with boobs even. The perfect laughing stock

“And she’ll like it too”

51 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

He is very fit.

Stays in shape by swerving the family station wagon to the side of the road and sprints back to the roadkill carcass to remove the raccoon penises.

Keeps him mighty spry 😭

Is the Commander in Chief included?

Well, Hegseth was drunk, so there's that. 😏

11 minutes ago, Brettoj said:

Is the Commander in Chief included?

He doesn't need high testosterone.

He's go "mojo".

1 hour ago, save the frogs said:

He is very fit.

But he sounds like a constipated harbor seal and he’s a straight up quack!anyway on topic this Hegseth is really creeping me out….perhaps he would be better served to figure out a way to act like a real competent secretary of defense and grow a pair by standing up to his lord and master…..you know the one that wears makeup and is a kiddie diddler…….

2 minutes ago, Tug said:

But he sounds like a constipated harbor seal and he’s a straight up quack!anyway on topic this Hegseth is really creeping me out….perhaps he would be better served to figure out a way to act like a real competent secretary of defense and grow a pair by standing up to his lord and master…..you know the one that wears makeup and is a kiddie diddler…….

Yeah, because when you were employed, you walked into your boss's office every 15 minutes and challenged the way he ran the company.

Cuz you had big balls.

Easy with the unproven allegations there.

1 minute ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, because when you were employed, you walked into your boss's office every 15 minutes and challenged the way he ran the company.

Cuz you had big balls.

Easy with the unproven allegations there.

Nonsense the whole administration is just a bunch of trump yes men we have seen what he does to people who disagree or try to hold him to account.

43 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Yeah, because when you were employed, you walked into your boss's office every 15 minutes and challenged the way he ran the company.

Cuz you had big balls.

Easy with the unproven allegations there.

Ouch! You reminded me of part of the reason I did not get the bigger raises and thus am retired to a lower cost country. There was a price to be paid ... then again, picture Br'er Rabbit thrown into his briar patch (apologize if not familiar with US Uncle Remus tales).

40 minutes ago, Tug said:

Nonsense the whole administration is just a bunch of trump yes men we have seen what he does to people who disagree or try to hold him to account.

Historical hallmarks of the trump/Project 2025 administration ... ignorance, incompetence, corruption. Hmm, if testosterone levels does not meet hegseth standard, will he be paying for the disability compensation?

Edited July 16Jul 16 by wwest5829

Wait for DJT announcement. “I have so much testosterone, maybe the highest level. I don’t think the current testing range can measure it accurately. Anyway I will be providing my testosterone as a supplemental injection to any soldier who needs it. I have a lot. I mean thousands of gallons. could probably fill up swimming pools. Maybe I should make it available at my souvenir shops for anyone to buy at $999 per shot. Come think of it what a great idea. I have so many great ideas. How do I come up with them. Only a man with iq of over 1000 could do it. I don’t mean to brag but it’s the truth”.

Testosterone replacement causes men to be infertile

THANKS DOCTOR JESUS 🎱

😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣😭

I thought gender affirming care was a right wing no-no.

He should have his own testosterone levels checked, as his increasingly intense desire to demonstrate his own masculinity is likely masking some very serious shortfalls in that area.

This is a man who would not have been qualified to lead the San Diego chapter of the Boy Scouts. A man so deeply unqualified for his current position and one of the reasons why the Iran War has been such an extreme failure.

Pete is an abomination. Pure gutter trash.

22 minutes ago, SiSePuede419 said:

Testosterone replacement causes men to be infertile

THANKS DOCTOR JESUS 🎱

😀😃😄😁😆😅😂🤣😭

It is certainly not healthy longterm. And I don't think testosterone will help run away from swarm of drones. US cannot win wars. Has it ever? Its approach to conflicts is still from the 60's.

3 hours ago, Purdey said:

Is anyone noticing how RFK jr looks so young and spry on testosterone injections?

He looks like my old motorbike saddle bag.

These are the people leading the USA people, like sheep to the slaughter. When will the US citizens wake up before it is too late?

Not a bad idea given that troops need to be fit, able and willing to fight for their country.

What's the minimum dick size, Pete ❓

All soldiers will be given a wooden ruler and sent into a room and told to think of something totally not gay like Pete Hegseth. 🥳

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

He should have his own testosterone levels checked, as his increasingly intense desire to demonstrate his own masculinity is likely masking some very serious shortfalls in that area.

Some people should have their testosterone LOWERED.

3 hours ago, AustinRacing said:

Wait for DJT announcement. “I have so much testosterone, maybe the highest level. I don’t think the current testing range can measure it accurately. Anyway I will be providing my testosterone as a supplemental injection to any soldier who needs it. I have a lot. I mean thousands of gallons. could probably fill up swimming pools. Maybe I should make it available at my souvenir shops for anyone to buy at $999 per shot. Come think of it what a great idea. I have so many great ideas. How do I come up with them. Only a man with iq of over 1000 could do it. I don’t mean to brag but it’s the truth”.

If Christopher Hitchens was still with us, I suspect he would say this about Trump:

"He's so full of it, if they gave him an enema, they could bury him in a matchbox"

5 hours ago, Purdey said:

Is anyone noticing how RFK jr looks so young and spry on testosterone injections?

To answer your question: yes

But why did you post a picture of a baseball glove?