Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. military to require testosterone screening for active-duty service members over the age of 30, according to a report by ABC7. The order applies to male troops and is framed by Pentagon leadership as a measure to maintain military readiness.
The directive calls for testosterone levels to be checked as part of military health evaluations. Testosterone naturally declines with age in men, and low levels have been associated with fatigue, reduced muscle mass, and other physical changes that could affect performance.
The move comes amid a broader set of health and fitness priorities that Hegseth has promoted since taking office as secretary of defense. Officials at the Pentagon have not provided detailed public guidance on what follow-up care or treatment would be offered to troops who test below a certain level.
The policy applies to troops over the age of 30, a threshold that reflects the point at which age-related hormonal decline typically begins to become measurable in clinical settings. The full scope of how the testing will be administered across branches of the military had not been outlined in detail as of the date of the report.
The order does not appear to be tied to any specific operational concern but is described as part of an effort to monitor and support the physical condition of the force. It is not yet clear whether results would affect deployment status or other aspects of a service member's military career.
