Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth administers the oath of enlistment to a group of National Guard soldiers, at the base of the Washington Monument, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
The Pentagon has “temporarily rescinded” the clinical guidance draft published Wednesday detailing its new testosterone screening policy for service members.
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The document was removed from the Defense Health Agency’s website, as first reported by Reuters, though the interim guidance still remains in place, a Department of Defense official told NOTUS.
“The draft ‘Clinical Guidance for Health and Human Performance Optimization’ published on September 2, 2026, has been temporarily rescinded to allow for updates,” the official said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the mandatory testosterone screening policy in July, saying the new guidance would apply to all service members 30 and older. Service members under the age of 30 could also voluntarily request to have the screenings.
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The screenings would be conducted during the service members’ periodic health assessments, which are required annually.
“This initiative is not about artificial enhancement,” Hegseth said in a video posted to X on July 15. “It’s about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain and fight.”
Testosterone levels naturally drop about 1% a year for men, beginning in their late 30s, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
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