The Trump administration is warning that declining testosterone levels among American men could threaten national security, prompting the Pentagon to introduce new screening guidelines aimed at protecting military readiness.
Senior health officials say testosterone deficiency, combined with obesity and chronic disease, could complicate efforts to maintain a physically capable fighting force as the military confronts longstanding recruitment challenges.
“There is absolutely national defense readiness ramifications for [low testosterone],” Adm. Brian Christine, a senior Department of Health and Human Services official, told Fox News Digital.
Christine, a urologist with more than 35 years of experience in men’s health, said testosterone levels have been declining for decades.
He pointed to estimates suggesting that average testosterone levels among American men have fallen substantially since the 1970s.
“In the mid-1970s, the average testosterone level for men in this country … was well over 650. Now it’s approaching 350,” Christine said.
The administration’s concerns extend beyond hormonal health.
Christine warned that approximately 77% of Americans between ages 17 and 24 do not qualify for military service without a waiver, citing obesity, chronic disease and other disqualifying conditions.
Among young men, he estimated that more than 70% are ineligible for service.
He also said only approximately 3% of young Americans express interest in joining the military.
The figures illustrate the recruitment challenges facing the armed forces as the administration seeks to strengthen military preparedness.
In September, the Pentagon issued new testosterone deficiency screening guidelines for male service members ages 30 and older.
The initiative was developed with input from Christine and other health officials.
Under the guidelines, screenings begin with assessments of symptoms and risk factors associated with low testosterone.
Service members who exhibit symptoms may then undergo additional medical testing to determine whether treatment is appropriate.
The administration emphasized that the policy does not require troops to receive testosterone therapy.
“We’re not forcing testosterone on anybody,” Christine explained.
“But what we are doing is screening, taking those men who are symptomatic and have low numbers and offering them a pathway forward.”
The screening initiative is part of the administration’s broader focus on military performance, recruitment and combat readiness.
President Donald Trump has prioritized stricter fitness requirements and changes to military operations during his second term.
His administration has also eliminated certain diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives while pursuing reforms involving recruitment and weapons acquisition.
Christine argued that addressing underlying health conditions is essential to ensuring service members can meet the physical demands of military duty.
He identified obesity and chronic diseases as established factors associated with testosterone deficiency.
However, he also raised questions about whether environmental exposures, including microplastics and other substances, could contribute to declining hormone levels.
Researchers have not yet established the extent to which those exposures affect testosterone trends.
National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya echoed concerns about declining testosterone levels during a separate interview.
“It’s interesting because if you look at the epidemiological trends, testosterone levels in the American male population have been declining over the last decades,” Bhattacharya said.
“And, again, we don’t know why. We don’t have an answer.”
Bhattacharya emphasized that researchers must determine both the causes of the decline and the appropriate medical response.
He also raised concerns that some men with testosterone deficiency may remain undiagnosed.
“There are under-diagnosed testosterone deficiencies,” he said.
Medical guidelines generally require both relevant symptoms and consistently low testosterone measurements before a diagnosis is established, per the New York Post.
Bhattacharya also highlighted declining sperm counts as another issue requiring scientific investigation.
He suggested that environmental factors could be contributing to broader reproductive health concerns, although their precise effects remain uncertain.
The NIH is investing in research intended to identify potential causes and improve medical guidance for men experiencing hormonal health problems.
Christine stressed that testosterone affects more than physical strength or appearance.
“Testosterone levels in men are absolutely related to their overall well-being, to their lifespan, to their health span and to their wellness,” he said.
He also noted that men with low testosterone frequently experience higher rates of anxiety and depression.
Meanwhile, the administration is developing separate hormonal health guidance for female service members.
According to Christine, women’s health specialists are helping shape those recommendations, which are expected to follow the September guidance issued for male troops.
The administration maintains that identifying and appropriately treating hormonal deficiencies could support the health of service members and improve their ability to perform demanding assignments.
For now, federal health officials continue investigating why testosterone levels have declined and how those trends could affect military readiness in the years ahead.
