On July 16, Hegseth announced mandatory annual testosterone screening and optional T supplements for troops 30 ​years and older, a new initiative Hegseth claims will ‌ensure enlistees “have the right ​testosterone levels to operate at your absolute ⁠best.”

What he didn’t announce is that testosterone supplements can cause infertility, shrink testicles, and drive up red blood cell counts, which thickens blood and raises the risk of blood clots and pulmonary embolism. Even worse, when T levels are excessive/ too high, men get stupid.

While that may explain Hegseth’s frequent blunders, excessive testosterone among the troops would present unanticipated and unconsidered risks.