The Pentagon has unveiled a new initiative to test service members for low testosterone and offer replacement therapy when medically recommended. This program, announced by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth aims to enhance military readiness and long-term health. However, it has sparked debate due to the contrasting approach to hormone therapy for transgender service members.
The program will require annual testosterone testing for service members aged 30 and older as part of their periodic health assessments. Younger troops can request testing voluntarily. Those diagnosed with a deficiency may opt for testosterone replacement therapy if recommended by a medical provider. Hegseth emphasized that this initiative is about restoring natural capabilities rather than artificial enhancement.
Contrasting Approaches to Hormone Therapy
The Pentagon’s new program highlights a stark contrast in the administration’s approach to hormone therapy. For service members presumed to be cisgender, testosterone therapy is promoted as evidence-based care that enhances resilience and combat readiness. However, for transgender service members, hormone therapy has been portrayed as costly and disruptive.
The Trump administration has repeatedly cited medical costs to justify restricting access to gender-affirming care for transgender troops. In court, the government cited more than $52 million in military spending on care associated with gender dysphoria between 2015 and 2026. This amounts to an average of about $5.2 million each year, a fraction of the military’s
The Cost Argument and Legal Challenges
U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes rejected the administration’s cost argument in, noting that the military spent roughly $41 million on Viagra in 2026 alone. Reyes described the cost of transgender care as so small in relation to total military spending that it was ‘not even a rounding error.’ Hegseth’s new program makes the contradiction harder to avoid.
Rep. Pramila Jayapal a prominent supporter of transgender rights, highlighted the disparity during a congressional hearing. She pointed out that the administration is providing hormone therapy for cisgender service members while restricting access for transgender individuals. Jayapal emphasized that hormone therapy is gender-affirming care, regardless of the patient’s gender identity.
Broader Implications and Medical Perspectives
The new policy applies to active-duty service members aged 30 and older, who will undergo annual testosterone deficiency screenings. Service members under 30 can voluntarily participate. If a screening identifies low testosterone, recommended treatment, including testosterone replacement therapy, will remain optional.
Dr. Peter J. Snyder who led major NIH-funded testosterone trials, noted that low testosterone is rare and routine screening is not recommended. He emphasized that treatment should only be considered for symptomatic individuals with confirmed low testosterone levels. Snyder also raised concerns about the testing process’s feasibility in the military and the potential for overdiagnosis.
The Pentagon’s announcement comes amid broader scrutiny of Hegseth’s personnel decisions affecting female service members. In recent months, Hegseth has intervened in multiple Navy promotion lists, blocking the advancement of several senior officers, including women. Critics argue that these moves could limit opportunities for advancement for women and minority officers.
Health officials in the Trump administration have expressed support for widening the availability of testosterone therapy for men. The Department of Health and Human Services, led by Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. proposed earlier this month to loosen restrictions on the therapy. The move came after a Food and Drug Administration panel in December called for regulatory changes to make testosterone therapy more accessible.
The Pentagon’s new testosterone screening program underscores the complex interplay between military health policies, gender identity, and medical ethics. As the debate continues, the administration’s approach to hormone therapy remains a contentious issue with significant implications for service members’ health and well-being.
