Pete Hegseth's Plan for 'High T' Troops Is a Junk Science Fever Dream

https://www.wired.com/story/pete-hegseths-plan-for-high-t-troops-is-a-junk-science-fever-dream/

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https://archive.md/20260717003257/https://www.wired.com/story/pete-hegseths-plan-for-high-t-troops-is-a-junk-science-fever-dream/

US DEFENSE SECRETARY Pete Hegseth has made no secret of his desire for a manlier military.

He consistently argues that the US Armed Forces lowered their combat standards in order to include women. He’s staged various photo ops in which he exercises and pumps iron with service members. In his speeches, Hegseth says that the Trump administration is restoring a “warrior ethos” to its legions of “warfighters.”

Now he has a rather dubious plan to guarantee that the troops are as macho as possible: testosterone screenings and, in cases where an individual’s testosterone is judged to be deficient, voluntary hormone therapy.

“Under the supervision of our world-class medical professionals, warfighters aged 30 and older are going to be tested annually as part of their periodic health assessment,” Hegseth said in a short video posted to his official X account on Wednesday. Those younger than 30 will be able to opt in to these evaluations as well, he explained.

“If treatment is recommended, it's entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy,” Hegseth added.

Addressing service members directly, Hegseth said without offering evidence that the program would benefit “your performance, your resilience, and your long-term health.” He also declared that the initiative was “not about artificial enhancement,” but rather “restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight.”

*snip*