finance
Defense Secretary Orders Annual Testosterone Screening for Male Troops Over 30 as Part of 'High T Department of War'
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that active-duty male military personnel over age 30 will be screened annually for testosterone levels. The testing will be added to routine physicals and described as part of a “High T Department of War.”
Jul 17, 9:36 PM·1m read1 source
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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that active-duty male military personnel over age 30 will be screened annually for testosterone levels, Forbes reported. The testing will be incorporated into routine annual physicals of all active military personnel born as male. Hegseth made the statement in a video posted July 15, 2026.
Testosterone is produced by the male testes and the female ovaries and adrenal glands. Low levels can lead to muscle and bone weakness, fatigue, and decline in libido. In women, high levels can lead to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, present in up to one in eight premenopausal women.
An FDA expert panel on testosterone replacement therapy met in December 2025. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services requested revisions to treatment guidelines and updated data on cardiovascular and prostate cancer risks of TRT, stating that several studies have recently shown those risks are lower than previously reported.
TRT remains a lifelong treatment that requires monitoring for side effects including fertility changes, sleep issues, and mood disorders. No specific medical guidelines currently exist for routine testing in asymptomatic men as young as 30.
