rights
The Pentagon Said Transgender Hormone Care Costs Too Much. Now Pete Hegseth Wants Testosterone Boosts
By Christopher Wiggins at them.
· July 15, 2026
· 3 min read
This story originally appeared on The Advocate.The Pentagon is preparing to test service members for low testosterone and offer replacement therapy when military doctors recommend it, expanding access to the same class of hormone treatment the Trump administration has cited as an unnecessary expense
Key takeaway Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the initiative Wednesday in a video titled “The High-T Department of War,” presenting hormone therapy as an investment in military readiness, physical strength and long-term health.
Why this matters
The Pentagon's new initiative to offer testosterone replacement therapy to service members highlights a glaring disparity in the administration's approach to hormone treatment. While the program is being touted as a necessary investment in military readiness and health for cisgender troops, the same class of treatment has been deemed too costly for transgender service members. This double standard raises questions about the true motivations behind the Trump administration's policies on transgender military service. The administration's emphasis on cost when discussing transgender care, citing $52 million in spending over nearly a decade, seems particularly misleading given the new program's unspecified price tag. As the Pentagon moves forward with this initiative, it will be worth watching how the costs and benefits are weighed and presented, and how this contrasts with the treatment of transgender service members seeking similar care. The National LGBTQ Task Force may provide guidance on these disparities.
About this story
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Category: rights ·
Published: July 15, 2026 ·
Source: them. ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? This story originally appeared on The Advocate.The Pentagon is preparing to test service members for low testosterone and offer replacement therapy when military doctors recommend it, expanding access to the same class of hormone treatment the Trump administration has cited as an unnecessary expense
When was this published? This article was first published on July 15, 2026 by them. and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Christopher Wiggins at them.. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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