Too much testosterone, not enough munitions
The United States’ excessive focus on the culture war has come at the expense of mastering the technical demands of conventional warfare
One year after Donald Trump renamed the Department of Defense to the Department of War, the focus has shifted from mere defense to offensive action. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has emphasized maximum lethality over legal conduct and a more militant image for the military. This shift has led to the removal of women from most senior command positions and the elimination of diversity and equality programs.
The secretary has been promoting a "warrior ethos" and regularly shares workout videos with troops. This ideology resonates with a segment of American society, with 18% of Americans identifying as part of the "Loyal Right," a group that supports traditional views and fears the loss of masculinity. The trend of prioritizing physical strength is also evident in the increasing use of testosterone treatments, which have risen by 154% since 2020.
In line with this culture, the Pentagon plans to test the testosterone levels of service members over 30, providing treatment for those with deficiencies. Despite these cultural changes, the military's lethality has increased, leading to frequent airstrikes and high-profile military operations. However, there are concerns about the availability of munitions, with recent reports suggesting that the U.S. may have run out due to excessive focus on masculinity and lack of strategic planning.
This has strained relations between President Trump and Secretary Hegseth, who has faced criticism for failing to anticipate the munitions shortage and for prolonging the war in Iran.
Written by urgent.news from El Pais English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
