Pentagon mandates annual testosterone tests for troops over 30

The U.S. Department of Defense has ordered annual testosterone screening for all military personnel aged 30 and older, including women, as part of a broader push by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to optimize 'combat readiness.' Source: CNN The tests, which are voluntary for those under 30, aim to detect testosterone deficiency and offer optional replacement therapy. Hegseth stated the initiative is about 'restoring and optimizing natural capabilities,' not artificial enhancement. Source: El País

Broader push

This policy aligns with wider Trump administration efforts to ease access to testosterone therapy. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has publicly supported the hormone, claiming President Trump has 'the highest testosterone level' he has ever seen in someone over 70. Source: La Vanguardia Meanwhile, the FDA has proposed relaxing prescription labels for testosterone products, removing warnings about heart risks based on recent studies. Source: Listín Diario

Criticism and context

Critics have noted the ideological undertones, with Hegseth previously advocating for a 'highest male standard' in the military and banning transgender troops from serving. Source: Infobae Democrats like Rep. Summer Lee and Sen. Tammy Duckworth called the move 'gender-affirming care for men,' highlighting a contradiction. Source: El Mundo Medical experts also caution that routine testing on healthy 30-year-olds is unsupported by evidence, as only about 1% have clinical hypogonadism, and excess testosterone carries risks like infertility and blood clots. Source: La Vanguardia