Story perspectives

Pentagon Requires Yearly Testosterone Screening, Sparks Gender Care Outcry

7/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon will require annual testosterone screening for service members 30 and older, with under-30s opting in voluntarily.
Pentagon officials said no scientific studies back the mandate and gave no guidance on estrogen-based therapy for female troops.
Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Chrissy Houlahan criticized the policy as akin to gender-affirming care and tied it to U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to ease testosterone prescriptions.

History

Historical Context

In 1990, after the 1947 National Security Act created the modern Department of Defense, Secretary Les Aspin mandated annual physicals for roughly 1.5 million active-duty members, funding $200 million. Now Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s proposal to add testosterone screening for personnel 30 and older revives that central-medical trend, prompting criticism from Senator Tammy Duckworth and Rep. Chrissy Houlahan.

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Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the Pentagon will require annual testosterone screening for service members 30 and older, with under-30s opting in voluntarily.
Pentagon officials said no scientific studies back the mandate and gave no guidance on estrogen-based therapy for female troops.
Senator Tammy Duckworth and Representative Chrissy Houlahan criticized the policy as akin to gender-affirming care and tied it to U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to ease testosterone prescriptions.

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