The Daily Populous Thursday July 16th, 2026 morning edition
Authored by commondreams.org and submitted by _May26_

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday elicited instant ridicule after he unveiled a new plan to offer military personnel testosterone injections.

In a video announcement, Hegseth said he was authorizing a screening program to ensure US soldiers "have the right testosterone levels" to perform at their "absolute best."

"It's well established science that, as we age, testosterone levels often drop," the US defense secretary explained. "Under the supervision of our world-class medical professionals, warfighters aged 30 and older are going to be tested annually as part of their periodic health assessment."

The High-T Department of War. pic.twitter.com/hlAUq3j2cD

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) July 15, 2026

Personnel who are found lacking in testosterone, Hegseth continued, would get recommendations for hormone injections, though he emphasized that this would be entirely optional.

"This initiative, it's not about artificial enhancement," Hegseth emphasized. "It's about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities."

Critics on social media responded to Hegseth's new testosterone injection plan with mockery.

Journalist Amanda Katz joked that Hegseth's plan was "literally gender-affirming care" of the kind that Hegseth halted for transgender service members last year.

Rep. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) similarly asked Hegseth if the new program means that "now y’all support gender-affirming care?"

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) said that the Hegseth initiative "is gender affirming care and it completely debunks all of Republicans’ attacks on trans people."

Fred Wellman, a Democratic candidate for Congress in Missouri and a veteran of the US Army, called Hegseth's initiative "the absolute dumbest thing imaginable for the secretary of defense to be focused on."

"We are literally at war and this idiot is in his office doing two camera make up videos on testosterone," Wellman added. "What a complete clown show. I’m so sorry for our poor service members who have to deal with this ridiculous man."

Attorney Bradley Moss likened the Hegseth plan to the plot of Soldier, a 1998 movie starring Kurt Russell that bombed with both critics and audiences.

Moss added, however, that Hegseth's idea appeared even "stupider" than the movie.

Attorney Will Stancil wondered if Hegseth's testosterone program might finally push some military personnel over the edge.

"Without a hint of sarcasm I think he might get himself fragged eventually," Stancil wrote.

ajmartin527 on July 15th, 2026 at 21:08 UTC »

This is just rage bait to steal attention from Todd Blanche’s confirmation hearing and unfortunately it’s working. This story is all over and very little coverage of the bullshit that’s being spewed by the presidents personal pedo shield right now.

This is how the GOP works. Spark some flashy headline outrage while they’re ramming horrific shit through in the background. Every fucking time.

DisMFer on July 15th, 2026 at 20:43 UTC »

The entire right wing hyper-masculinity sphere is obsessed with TRT as some massive cure all that will make every man into a superhero.

Aware_Cheesecake_519 on July 15th, 2026 at 20:30 UTC »

This guy must be homophobic.