In a nearly three-minute video posted to X and titled “The High-T Department of War,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that the US military will begin annual testosterone screenings for all service members aged 30 and older. Those found deficient would be offered hormone replacement therapy.
Hegseth framed the initiative as one of readiness rather than vanity, saying it was about “restoring and optimizing natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight.” He stressed the therapy would be optional.
Critics were quick to point out the irony: Hegseth, known for his vocal opposition to what he calls “woke” policies in the military, is now effectively championing what some have labeled a form of “gender-affirming care” — the same broad medical category he has publicly opposed in other contexts. The policy has already become a lightning rod in the US culture wars.
