The United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered all active duty and reserve personnel aged 30 and over be screened for testosterone deficiency as part of their periodic health assessment. Those younger than 30 can opt in.

In a video called “The High T Department of War”, Hegseth said the initiative is “not about artificial enhancement”. Instead:

it’s about restoring and optimising your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight.

it’s about restoring and optimising your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight.

Taken at face value, this is simply an announcement of a new health measure. But widespread screening for testosterone deficiency among otherwise healthy personnel is not established medical practice, and has potential drawbacks.

The policy also presents testosterone levels as a measure of “manhood” and “lethality”. This not only embraces the manosphere, it embeds it into US government policy.

Read more: From violence to sexism, the manosphere is doing real-world harm

Yes, testosterone levels decline

As Hegseth notes, male testosterone levels decline with age, particularly after 40. But that’s not necessarily a health problem. It may simply reflect normal ageing.

A lower testosterone level is no simple measure of military capability or strength. Training, sleep and........

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