Pete Hegseth wants widespread testosterone testing in the military. Researchers say US men already have a T problem.

Pete Hegseth wants widespread testosterone testing in the military. Researchers say US men already have a T problem. The Department of Defense has announced a new policy to support troops' fitness and effectiveness by testing testosterone levels. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images The Pentagon's new policy about testosterone testing for troops addresses a major gap in men's health — and has raised serious concerns.That's mainly because, while low T is a problem among older men in America, military servicemen tend to be well under 30. Researchers worry the policy could promote testosterone dependency and other long-term health problems for them.While Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's Wednesday announcement said that new T screening during the military's annual check-ups would apply automatically only to troops 30 and older, younger service members, who make up the vast majority of the military, can opt in. Anyone with low testosterone would then be given the option to pursue recommended treatments, such as taking supplemental T.The goal, Hegseth said, is to optimize performance and preserve longevity. It's part of a broad pattern of testosterone fixation in the Trump administration, from new language in dietary guidelines to an FDA push to make treatments more accessible.Hegseth's announcement opened the screening to all "warfighters," regardless of gender. A Pentagon official told Business Insider that "everyone over 30 years old will be tested annually."Hegseth's announcement, and the caption "The High T Department of War," drew mixed reactions from researchers.Stuart Phillips, a kinesiology professor at McMaster University who has published research on testosterone, said there's no good evidence the policy would reliably boost performance or longevity in men under 50. "It's a little bit odd," he told Business Insider. "I'm not exactly sure what the problem is that's being addressed."It also sparked concerns about mismatched priorities: the administration's focus on high T, compared to the support that American troops may actually need."If you ask people who train military trainees, we know what builds resilient troops," Phillips said. "Sleep, training, nutrition, preparation, those things all move performance far more than a prescription."Young men are already overprescribed testosteroneSuppressed testosterone levels are a known issue in the military as troops have consistently been shown to struggle with chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and high rates of obesity. It's particularly pronounced among the small percentage of troops who serve in special operations, such as Navy SEALs.Because testosterone declines with age, older men face a higher risk of low T, with most symptoms starting around 45 and increasing over the decades.Young men, on the other hand, are prone to being overprescribed testosterone, thanks to social media trends promising to supercharge vitality through T-maxxing. Nearly half of all military troops are 25 years old or younger, according to 2024 Pentagon data.The broad approach to testing hormone levels across service men, including those in their 30s and still considered young, "doesn't make sense," said Eric Feigl-Ding, a public health researcher at the New England Complex Systems Institute."Suddenly giving T to young adults who don't have major symptoms is not necessarily wise," he told Business Insider.One of the concerns is that testing for low testosterone can be complex, according to Feigl-Ding, who has studied the hormone. A diagnosis of low T requires multiple tests, along with existing symptoms such as low libido, fatigue, and loss of muscle mass, according to the American Urological Association guidelines.Hard physical training can prevent a proper diagnosis because it can temporarily dampen hormone levels. A 2020 military medical study found that sleep deprivation sharply decreased testosterone levels for Army Rangers in training. Previous studies have demonstrated links between low T and traumatic brain injuries, a major concern for troops who are routinely exposed to blast waves from weaponry in training and combat, and increasingly, drone warfare."In a young man with low testosterone, usually that's a symptom of other things, not the disease itself," Phillips said. "It's a little bit of the cart before the horse scenario. The reality is there are probably lots of other things that are the problem, making the hormone low."Widespread testosterone testing, without the right context, could lead to unnecessary diagnoses and misguided treatments."When you screen the whole force on a single test, you're going to label probably thousands of perfectly healthy soldiers as low T when levels actually swing hour to hour anyway," Phillips said.One military health researcher who works for the Department of Defense welcomed the Pentagon's increased focus on hormonal health, citing the physical demands of military service. However, they questioned why the policy did not address hormonal health for women, who often face delayed diagnosis and treatment for conditions such as endometriosis, which affects military women more frequently than civilian women, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.Rita Graham, policy director for the Service Women's Action Network, echoed that sentiment, citing research suggesting military women may enter menopause earlier than civilians, adding that some troops and veterans have struggled for years to obtain hormone testing.Graham said advocates have been "begging for years" for the military and veteran health systems to address hormonal care for women. The new policy is a start to the conversation for men, but women "have not seen it on our side of the street."A hormonal balancing actTreatments to raise testosterone may not achieve the performance and longevity boost Hegseth is aiming for.Raising T to higher levels can increase energy and muscle mass. It also raises the risk of side effects, like infertility, long-term heart problems, and dependence on hormone therapy as the body stops making its own supply.For men with low T, the benefits of hormone replacement therapy are modest, endocrinologists previously told Business Insider.Still, more attention on T is generally a good thing, a "gateway to men's health," urologist Dr. Justin Dubin previously told Business Insider. "This is how we can access a lot of guys, get them in to learn about their blood pressure, whether they have diabetes, heart disease."The general population of American men is facing dwindling levels of testosterone compared to their grandfathers. It's an issue much touted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has said testosterone replacement therapy is part of his own longevity regimen. Under Kennedy's guidance, the FDA has begun rolling back some restrictions on TRT.Whether the new DoD policies will benefit the troops or backfire is unclear without details on how they plan to define low T and address treatment.The military's periodic health assessment, which Hegseth said will serve as the first stop for low testosterone screening, is not a comprehensive physical exam and relies largely on troops completing an electronic health questionnaire that's reviewed by a medical provider. The thoroughness of those assessments, which includes a final in-person consult, can vary widely."I think this new guidance for sweeping testing, and replacement therapy for what level of low T, of all ages 30 plus will be very confusing at best, and potentially harmful at worst," Feigl-Ding said. Read next Gabby is a Senior Health Reporter, with a focus on nutrition, fitness, longevity, and all things performance.Her coverage spans from the daily routines of top athletes like Michael Phelps and Coco Gauff to the latest cutting-edge science on building muscle to the rise of peptides, supplements, and GLP medications. She loves a deep dive into fitness subcultures, health companies, or the science behind managing and preventing disease, particularly early-onset cancers. Gabby has a background in investigative journalism (previously contributing research for an investigation on correctional healthcare for the New Yorker).In her free time, she likes lifting heavy, running fast, and playing roller derby for Gotham in New York City.Send story ideas and tips to glandsverk@businessinsider.com.Expertise/InterestsLongevity: how to dial in a daily routine to invest in long-term health, and what makes some of the longest-living people on earth active and vibrant as they age.Performance science: training techniques for goals ranging from muscle-building (hypertrophy), general physical preparedness, endurance, and injury prevention, especially for fitness beginners. Cancer research: unpacking the science behind why certain cancers are on the rise in younger people, how it's affecting the world around us, and what we can do about it. Healthy eating: how to navigate conflicting and contradictory advice across trends like protein-maxxing, intermittent fasting, and the Mediterranean, Nordic, and MIND diets.Medical weight loss: how emerging science around treatments like GLP medications are shaping the connections between food, weight, and health. Digital wellness: investigating how telehealth is changing access to healthcare, including through peptides, hormones, and direct-to-consumer lab tests. Strength sports, including Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, Hyrox, and CrossFit. Highlights:These twins' lives were identical, until one got colon cancer at 21Trouble in MAHA Land: They hoped RFK Jr. would help their kids with autism. Then the cuts began.It's not just for gym bros — scientists say a $0.50 muscle-building supplement slows aging and may counteract Alzheimer'sAt 78, Arnold Schwarzenegger still trains nearly every day — but his workouts look very different nowHow a stinky little fish conquered AmericaNoom sells psychology-driven weight loss. Some users expected therapy Kelsey Baker is a military affairs reporter for Business Insider covering service members, veterans, and national security. Prior to joining BI, she worked at The Washington Post as a Military Veterans in Journalism Fellow. She is a Marine veteran.Email Kelsey at kbaker@insider.com, or reach her securely on Signal at KelseyBaker75.75. Health Military