Military Testosterone Policy Questioned
Federal Judge Questions Military Policy on Testosterone Therapy for Transgender Troops vs. Low T Treatment
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A federal judge is demanding answers about a glaring contradiction in Pentagon policy. Judge Ana Reyes asked the government to explain why testosterone therapy for transgender male troops is banned while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new program tests and treats non-transgender troops for low testosterone, according to AP News.
The question came during an ongoing lawsuit challenging President Trump's ban on transgender military service. The two policies both involve testosterone replacement therapy — but the military treats them very differently.
Hegseth's New Testosterone Screening Program Explained
Hegseth launched a new screening program for what the Pentagon calls "testosterone deficiency" among troops. The Independent reported the screenings will happen annually as part of required medical checkups. All service members age 30 and older must take part. The program aims to identify and treat low testosterone levels in non-transgender troops.
The military says physical and mental readiness are top priorities. Treating low testosterone, the Pentagon argues, helps keep troops fit for duty. But critics say the policy creates a double standard — one that helps some troops while blocking others from the same type of care.
Judge Reyes Presses Pentagon on the Double Standard
Judge Reyes pointed out a direct conflict. Both programs use testosterone replacement therapy. One is allowed. One is banned. She asked the government to hand over documents showing the Pentagon's medical basis for treating transgender men differently, according to AP News.
Reyes noted that the Armed Forces hold troops to high mental and physical standards. She said those standards must be met without special provisions or routine medical exceptions. Her pointed questions suggest she sees little scientific difference between the two treatments, KTAR reported.
Trump's Transgender Ban Still Facing Legal Battles
President Trump signed an executive order banning transgender people from serving in the military shortly after taking office. The ban triggered multiple lawsuits across the country. Judge Reyes is presiding over one of those cases. Her courtroom questioning signals the administration may struggle to defend its medical reasoning, according to WSB-TV.
The core legal question is whether the ban discriminates without a valid medical reason. The government must now show why two nearly identical hormone treatments get opposite outcomes under military policy. That answer, legal experts say, will be hard to give.
What Happens Next in the Courtroom
Judge Reyes asked the Pentagon to provide documents and data backing its policy differences. MyNorthwest reported she wants a clear medical explanation for why transgender hormone therapy disqualifies a soldier while non-transgender testosterone treatment is now actively encouraged.
The case puts the Trump administration in an awkward position. It must argue that two similar medical treatments deserve completely different rules. If the government cannot produce strong scientific evidence, Judge Reyes may use that gap to challenge the legality of the entire transgender ban.
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