US soldiers must now undergo mandatory testosterone screening, says Hegseth

Summary

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday said all active-duty service members aged 30 and above will have to undergo annual testosterone screening as part of their routine medical evaluations. Many of the Democratic lawmakers pointed to Pentagon’s policy banning transgender service members who often rely on hormone therapy. “So now y’all support gender-affirming care?” Democratic Congresswoman Summer Lee wrote on social media. When asked what specific medical conditions the policy was designed to address, the department referred to Hegseth’s remarks that maintaining appropriate testosterone levels would help ensure troops remain psychologically and physically prepared for combat. The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ...