U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes in Washington raised concerns this week about the distinctions between testosterone replacement therapy offered through a new Pentagon screening initiative and hormone treatment previously denied to transgender troops under the Trump administration’s military ban.
Reyes issued an order requiring both parties in an ongoing lawsuit to explain the medical and logistical similarities and differences between testosterone replacement therapy for transgender men and the same treatment for other service members. The judge also requested documentation on the Pentagon’s rationale for treating transgender men differently under the new testosterone policy compared to the military’s existing ban on transgender service members.
Defense Secretary Hegseth announced the testosterone deficiency screening program approximately one week before Reyes’ order. The initiative calls for annual testing of service members aged 30 and older, with voluntary testing available for those under 30. Hegseth stated that participation in testosterone replacement therapy would remain voluntary and framed the program as enabling troops to perform at optimal levels. Trump administration officials have begun advocating for broader access to testosterone replacement therapies, though experts have long debated appropriate diagnostic criteria and treatment protocols for low testosterone conditions.
Reyes, nominated by President Joe Biden, is overseeing litigation filed by transgender active duty and former service members challenging Trump’s ban on transgender troops. The judge previously ruled against the executive order and has granted the case class-action status, meaning any decision could apply across the entire military. While the Supreme Court has allowed Pentagon enforcement of the ban during ongoing litigation, a federal appeals court panel previously determined the ban was unlawful and service members could not be discharged solely on this basis.
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