The Pentagon’s push for mandatory hormone testing raises questions about the future of humans on the battlefield
3-MIN READ3-MINChao Kongin BeijingPublished: 9:00am, 31 Jul 2026The Pentagon has introduced mandatory testosterone screening for active-duty service members aged 30 and older, with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth saying the policy is intended to strengthen combat readiness.Announcing the programme earlier this month, Hegseth said it would help ensure troops remained “strong, resilient and capable”. He argued that the demands of modern warfare required “maximum psychological and mental readiness”.
He also stressed that the initiative had “nothing to do with artificial enhancement”.
Male hormone decline is a global issue that has raised concerns in many other countries including China, where some experts argue a long-term shift in hormone levels could affect the future of military strategy.
