Pentagon brings back Hegseth’s testosterone rules — but something is missing

(DoW photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Eric Brann)

BS BULLETIN:

The Pentagon reinstated clinical guidance Thursday for Pete Hegseth’s mandatory testosterone-deficiency screening program.
An earlier version included separate hormone guidance for female troops but was abruptly pulled one day after it appeared.
The replacement guidance is specifically for male service members — with the previous female provisions nowhere to be found.

The Pentagon’s testosterone program is back.

But part of it isn’t.

The War Department issued new clinical guidance Thursday implementing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s program to screen male service members for testosterone deficiency — two weeks after abruptly withdrawing a broader version that also included hormone guidance for women.

Hegseth announced the initiative in July as part of an effort to improve military health and readiness. Service members 30 and older are to be screened for testosterone deficiency during their periodic health assessments, while younger troops can seek screening under certain circumstances.

“This initiative, it’s not about artificial enhancement; it’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capability, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight,” Hegseth said when announcing the program.

The High-T Department of War. pic.twitter.com/hlAUq3j2cD

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) July 15, 2026

Things became more complicated earlier this month.

On Sept. 2, the Defense Health Agency published detailed clinical guidance that covered both male testosterone deficiency and what the Pentagon called “female hormonal optimization.” For women, the document instructed medical providers to look for issues including fatigue and disrupted menstrual cycles that could indicate hormonal problems.

Then the guidance disappeared. The Pentagon said it had been temporarily rescinded for updates.

Hegseth senior adviser Tim Parlatore later told CNN that the document had been posted “inadvertently” before it was approved and said officials wanted additional input to ensure it reflected current medical science.

Now the replacement has arrived. And the female section is gone.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced Thursday that the new guidance “addresses male testosterone deficiency” and establishes standardized screening and treatment procedures across the military health system.

Everything we do comes back to readiness.

We are building a High-T Department focused on strength, performance, lethality, and a fighting force ready to dominate the battlefield and achieve the President and the Secretary’s peace through strength agenda.https://t.co/dFmzQUKCxY

— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) September 17, 2026

The War Department’s own announcement is similarly specific, describing the new rules as guidance for evaluating and treating testosterone deficiencies in “male warfighters.”

The department did not include the female hormone provisions contained in the earlier document. The mandatory testosterone-testing program itself is moving forward. Hegseth has argued that maintaining service members’ physical performance is as important to military readiness as investing in weapons and equipment.

“While we invest heavily in our weapon systems, platforms and gear, our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter,” Hegseth said.

Some medical experts have questioned blanket testosterone screening, arguing that testing people without symptoms could result in unnecessary treatment. Reuters reported that doctors have also raised concerns about potential health consequences when testosterone is prescribed inappropriately.

For now, however, Hegseth’s testosterone initiative is officially back in business. Just with a noticeably shorter guest list.