On Wednesday, July 15th, 2026, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the Department of Defense will implement a new screening program for testosterone deficiency targeting soldiers aged 30 and older. The initiative aims to ensure service members maintain the "right testosterone levels" to perform at their optimal conditions.

In a video posted to X, Hegseth stated, "I’m authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best." He emphasized the demands of the modern battlefield, noting it "requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness," and that early health marker interventions will help keep troops on the "leading edge of lethality."

Under the program, "warfighters" aged 30 and above will undergo annual testosterone level tests as part of their health assessments, while those under 30 may opt in voluntarily. Treatment options, including testosterone replacement therapy, will be voluntary and focus on "restoring and optimizing" natural capabilities.

Hegseth also highlighted that the program reflects the department’s commitment to providing "elite medical care" and maintaining the physical and mental readiness necessary for modern combat.

Separately, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 72, has publicly discussed his personal use of testosterone injections as part of an "anti-aging regimen." In October 2025, he warned—without presenting evidence—that American teenagers today have "50% of the testosterone of a 65-year-old man."

Research published in the journal Social Science and Medicine indicates that young men are increasingly targeted online by influencers and wellness companies promoting hormone tests and treatments as essential to masculinity, despite medical experts generally considering testosterone screening unwarranted for most in this age group.

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