Memorandum
- From
- Derek Weston via FOX News
- Date
- Filed
- Society·5 min to read
- Re
Trump officials warn of declining testosterone among American men as national security concern
ReTrump officials warn of declining testosterone among American men as national security concern
Health officials say falling testosterone levels among American men could affect military readiness, prompting new Pentagon screening guidelines for male service members aged 30 and older.
The Trump administration is treating declining testosterone levels among American men as a potential threat to military readiness, rolling out screening guidelines for male service members amid concern about both the health of the country's men and the shrinking pool of young people eligible to serve.
Adm. Brian Christine, a senior Department of Health and Human Services official, told Fox News Digital that there are « national defense readiness ramifications » linked to low testosterone. Christine, a urologist who has spent more than 35 years specializing in men's health, also pointed to broader recruiting challenges. He warned that 77 percent of Americans ages 17 to 24 do not qualify for military service without a waiver, with obesity, chronic disease and other barriers contributing to the problem. Among young men, he said, more than 70 percent are ineligible, while only about 3 percent of young Americans express interest in serving.
The warning comes as the administration places renewed emphasis on military readiness. Christine helped shape an initiative that led the Pentagon to issue testosterone deficiency screening guidelines in September for male service members ages 30 and older. Under the guidelines, those men undergo mandatory screening, beginning with an assessment of symptoms and risk factors. Further testing and potential treatment are available when medically appropriate.
Christine said that testosterone levels have been declining for decades. « In the mid-1970s, the average testosterone level for men in this country was well over 650. Now it's approaching 350, » he said. He pointed to obesity and chronic disease as established factors associated with low testosterone, while raising the possibility that environmental exposures, including microplastics and other toxins, could also be contributing. He acknowledged that researchers are still investigating that possibility.
Christine stressed that the program does not force treatment on anyone. « We're not forcing testosterone on anybody, » he said. « But what we are doing is screening, taking those men who are symptomatic and have low numbers and offering them a pathway forward. » He added that testosterone levels are related to men's overall well-being, lifespan and health span, and that men with low testosterone tend to experience higher rates of anxiety and depression.
National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya echoed those concerns in a separate interview with Fox News Digital. He said that epidemiological trends show testosterone levels in the American male population have been declining over the last decades, and added, « we don't know why. We don't have an answer. » He also warned that some testosterone deficiency may go undiagnosed. Medical guidelines stress that a diagnosis requires both symptoms and consistently low hormone levels, so Bhattacharya said researchers must determine not only the cause of the decline but also what guidance doctors should give men who are diagnosed.
Bhattacharya also pointed to declining sperm counts as an area needing further study, suggesting that environmental factors may be contributing to broader reproductive health concerns. « We need an answer to those questions, » he said. He said the NIH is investing in research to better understand the potential causes of these trends and to determine how doctors should advise American men.
The administration is also developing separate hormonal health guidance for female service members. The Defense Health Agency said that guidance would follow the September guidelines issued for male troops, with women's health specialists contributing to the recommendations, Christine said. He framed the overall goal as ensuring that service members can perform their duties while the government addresses broader health challenges facing American men. « If we truly want our men who are in uniform to be at their best, » Christine said, the focus must be on their ability to function and perform their jobs.
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