Co-hosts on the television program “The View” have voiced criticism regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recently announced plan to implement testosterone testing for service members aged 30 and older.
Hegseth announced the initiative on Wednesday via a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, stating that the testing would become a component of annual medical examinations. The stated goal is to assess whether service members “have the right testosterone levels” to perform at their peak. He noted that testosterone levels can naturally decline with age.
The proposal has drawn criticism from various quarters, with some suggesting it reflects personal insecurities about masculinity. During Friday's broadcast of “The View,” co-host Sara Haines echoed these sentiments, questioning the necessity and potential consequences of such a policy.
Haines drew a parallel to an incident involving a bison attacking a man at Yellowstone National Park, noting it occurred during the bison’s mating season. She suggested that Hegseth’s plan reflects an overemphasis on testosterone-driven behavior.
The Department of Defense has not yet released further details regarding the rollout of the testosterone testing requirement, nor has it specified whether female service members would be included in the screening. Hegseth has previously expressed skepticism about women serving in combat roles, though his public statements on the matter have varied. Reports indicate that earlier this year, he removed female and Black officers from promotion consideration lists within the Navy.