Pete Hegseth Is Now Requiring Testosterone Screenings For Military Members Over 30

Military work members complete nan property of 30 will beryllium required to person testosterone level testing arsenic portion of their yearly wellness assessments going forward, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday.

Hegseth, who has implemented respective mandates to heighten subject fitness, said successful a video posted connected X that nan testing was astir “ensuring you person nan correct testosterone levels to run astatine your absolute best.”

The defense secretary explained that testosterone levels driblet people arsenic group get older, truthful nan U.S. subject wanted to springiness its members nan action to return testosterone replacement therapy.

“It’s not astir artificial enhancement, it’s astir restoring and optimizing your earthy capabilities,” Hegseth said. “Protecting your longevity and ensuring you person nan biologic instauration required to prolong nan fight.”

Service members nether nan property of 30 will besides person nan action to get tested, though it’s voluntary.

Hegseth emphasized that those who are wished to beryllium testosterone deficient will not beryllium required to get aesculapian treatment. “If curen is recommended, it’s wholly your prime to person testosterone replacement therapy,” he said.

The Pentagon did not respond to questions astir what investigation aliases world studies underpinned nan move, The Associated Press reported, and didn’t opportunity if female troops would beryllium capable to beryllium evaluated for estrogen-based therapy arsenic they entered perimenopause.

Testosterone testing is nan latest request Hegseth has ordered nan subject to instrumentality arsenic portion of his efforts to destruct what he called “fat troops” and overhaul nan image of nan subject to align pinch President Donald Trump’s agenda.

Earlier this year, Hegseth unveiled a caller Army Combat Field Test to guarantee work members return “to nan highest antheral standard.”

Active-duty Air Force members are being required to taxable their waist-to-height ratios by nan extremity of nan period for officials to measure “readiness and wellness of nan force.”

Last year, Hegseth ordered nan Army to implement a “sex-neutral and age-normed” beingness fittingness test, aft emphasizing that women work members would person to meet nan aforesaid standards arsenic men.

Under his leadership, Hegseth has taken fierce steps to return nan military’s image to a male-dominated force. He has implemented stricter grooming standards and higher beingness fittingness standards.

In September 2025, Hegseth called a gathering of nan apical subject officials to berate them for being overweight aliases having overweight troops.

"Frankly, it's tiring to look retired astatine combat formations, aliases really immoderate formation, and spot fat troops. Likewise, it's wholly unacceptable to spot fat generals and admirals successful nan halls of nan Pentagon," Hegseth said during nan meeting.

Hegseth besides implemented stricter grooming standards aft railing against “beardos” during nan September meeting. The defense caput was reportedly irritated recently aft visiting a Navy vessel and seeing sailors pinch beards.