Trump Administration Mandates Testosterone Screenings and Renames Defense Department

The Trump administration has launched a series of policies designed to increase testosterone levels across the U.S. civilian and military populations to emphasize masculinity and lethality. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Food and Drug Administration is removing limitations on testosterone replacement therapy (TRT), simplifying the prescription process for men.

In the military, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has mandated testosterone screening for all service members over the age of 30. Hegseth also renamed the Department of Defense to the Department of War, stating the goal is to create a "High-T department of war" focused on combat effectiveness. These actions align with broader Republican efforts to associate high testosterone with leadership and virility, while simultaneously moving to criminalize testosterone use for transgender youth.

Medical experts have cautioned that these policies ignore evidence-based science. They warn that TRT can lead to infertility and suppress natural hormone production in individuals who are otherwise healthy.