The AI Times
United States
Read another desk
All Geopolitics & international affairsEconomyUnited StatesAnglosphereEuropeRussia & EurasiaLevant & Iran Gulf & Türkiye North Africa Africa South Asia East Asia Latin America Energy Technology Media Watch
Sections
News Panel Outlets Headlines Analysis & editorial coming soon
Registers
All news Outlets Journalists
Who we are Alerts Pricing Sign in / up
Desks
All Geopolitics & international affairsEconomyUnited StatesAnglosphereEuropeRussia & EurasiaLevant & Iran Gulf & Türkiye North Africa Africa South Asia East Asia Latin America Energy Technology Media Watch
The AI Times
every claim sourced| every source shown| always on watch

Women's hormone rules 'left out', says the Washington Examiner; coming 'later', says the Washington Post

The Pentagon's reissued testosterone guidance covers men aged 30 and over. The Examiner says rules for women were left out. The Post says officials promise them later. Neither gives a date.

Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance
Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance as published by Washington Examiner · seen at Washington Examiner
United States United States

What both reports carry. Testosterone screening now applies to male service members from about age 30. The Washington Examiner says it is mandatory "effective immediately" for men "over age 30". The Washington Post says men "aged 30 and over". Both say the guidance covers men only.

Where they differ. The two outlets describe the same gap in different words.

Washington Examiner Washington Post
On women "left out" men only "for now"
Why no rules for women female guideline "is being reviewed and will be posted upon approval" "will be released later, officials said"
Earlier version issued Sept. 2, "retracted the next day", covered women too not mentioned
Name used "Department of War" "Pentagon"

The Examiner's body is softer than its headline. It quotes the guidance saying the women's rules are under review. In the document's own words, that is a delay, not an exclusion.

Who speaks. The only named voice in either report is Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell, in the Examiner. No service member is quoted. The Examiner's medical case for treating women rests on experts it does not name.

What is not settled - When the women's rules will appear. Neither report gives a date. - Why the Sept. 2 guidance was withdrawn. Only the Examiner reports the withdrawal. It gives no reason. - Whether the women's rules will keep the estrogen and progesterone guidance that the Examiner says the first version held. - We hold only the opening lines of the Post's report.

What this is about. The US military has begun screening its men for low testosterone. It has not yet said how it will treat hormone problems in its women.

How it got here. Pete Hegseth is a former Fox News host and Army National Guard officer. He became Secretary of Defense in January 2025 under President Donald Trump. In September 2025 Trump signed an order letting the department also call itself the "Department of War". Congress has not changed the legal name, so outlets differ on which to use. The Examiner writes "War Secretary". The Post writes "Pentagon".

The Examiner reports that Hegseth announced the screening programme on social media on July 15, calling it an effort to build a "High-T Military". Clinical guidance followed on Sept. 2. The Examiner says that version covered testosterone for men and estrogen and progesterone for women, and that it was withdrawn the next day. On Friday, Sept. 18, a new version appeared for men only.

Who is involved. The Pentagon writes the rules and its clinicians apply them. The people affected are active-duty troops. Men aged 30 and over now face mandatory screening. Since the Pentagon opened every combat role to women in 2015, women serve across the force, so a gap in medical rules reaches them too. The Examiner reports that elite units, such as Navy SEALs and Green Berets, face sleep loss, calorie limits and stress that can disrupt hormones in both sexes. It cites experts it does not name.

What is at stake. If the women's rules come quickly, this is a short delay in paperwork. If they do not, the military runs a hormone programme for one sex only. The guidance warns clinicians that added testosterone can affect a man's fertility.

Where it stands. The men's guidance is in force. The document says the women's guideline "is being reviewed and will be posted upon approval". No date has been published.

What is being argued about

  • Whether women's hormone rules were left out or only delayed
  • The Sept. 2 guidance the Examiner says was withdrawn a day later
  • Mandatory testosterone screening for men aged 30 and over
  • Whose voices the reports carry
From announcement to men-only guidanceTimeline
  1. 2026-07-15— no time published Pete Hegseth Announces testosterone screening on social media as a "High-T Military"Washington Examiner
  2. 2026-09-02— no time published Pentagon Issues clinical guidance covering men and womenWashington Examiner only
  3. 2026-09-03— no time published Pentagon Withdraws the guidanceWashington Examiner only
  4. 2026-09-18— no time published Pentagon Reissues guidance for male service members only men 30 and overboth reports
  5. 2026-09-1812:24 UTC Washington Post publication time Washington Post Rules for women "will be released later, officials said"
  6. 2026-09-1815:45 UTC Washington Examiner publication time Washington Examiner Women's hormone replacement "left out"
Only the Washington Examiner dates the first guidance and its withdrawal. We hold no second report that confirms those dates.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Washington Post → What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
One gap, two descriptionsSide by side
outletwhat it said about womenhedged?
Washington Examiner (headline)Women's hormone replacement "left out"No
Washington Examiner (body, quoting the document)The female guideline "is being reviewed and will be posted upon approval"No date given
Washington PostRules for females "will be released later, officials said"Officials not named; no date given
We hold only the opening lines of the Washington Post report.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Washington Post → What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
The bias in this coverageBias

Left out, or coming later

One report says women were 'left out' and names the department as the actor. The other says their rules will come 'later', on the word of officials who are not named. Both carry the same fact: the guidance issued covers men only.

1 reports naming the department as the actor 2 reports relying on sources that are not named 0 service members quoted
Scored without the mastheads. Where the two passes differ, both are kept.
Sources Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Washington Post → What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Claims and verdicts

true The Pentagon's new guidance makes testosterone screening mandatory for male service members aged 30 and over.
The Washington Examiner and The Washington Post both report screening for men aged 30 and over. The Examiner says 'over age 30' and the Post says '30 and over', a small difference in wording.
Checked against 2 sources:
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Washington Post → What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
misleading Hormone guidance for women was left out of the Pentagon's testosterone program.
The Washington Examiner headline says 'left out', but its body quotes the document saying the female guideline 'is being reviewed and will be posted upon approval'. The Washington Post, citing officials, says rules for women will be released later.
Checked against 2 sources:
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Washington Post → What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
unverified The first guidance, which covered women too, was issued on Sept. 2 and withdrawn the next day.
Only the Washington Examiner reports the dates and the withdrawal. The Washington Post report we hold says only that the guidelines were 'newly updated'.
Checked against 1 source:
Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →

Who wrote it

G Gabrielle M. Etzel Washington Examiner
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Actor named The body names the department as the one that left women out.×1
Document quoted Quotes the guidance's own line on the women's rules, word for word.×1
Headline frame Leads with what is missing for women.×1
Sequence dated Dates the withdrawal and the reissue, so a reader can see the gap in time.×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 misleading1 unverified1 true
From 34 reports we hold under this byline, at Washington Examiner. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
A Aoife Walsh The Washington Post
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side×1
Asserted versus attributed racist stated flat in a news headline×1
Frame chosen Presents the gap as a delay. The explanation comes from officials who are not named.×1
Headline frame "For now" presents the exclusion as temporary.×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 misleading1 disputed1 unverified5 true
From 21 reports we hold under this byline, at The Washington Post. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
V Victoria Craw The Washington Post
What the bias passes found in their reporting
Asserted versus attributed the constitutional charge attributed to outlets and advocacy groups×1
Attributed The record claim is attributed to an advocacy centre; the injection has no actor named×1
Attributed Attributes the 'first survivor' claim to a named organisation×1
Attributed rather than asserted The same judgement appears here only in other people's mouths, with the constitutional claim attributed to outlets and advocacy groups×1
Claims we checked that rest on their reporting
1 misleading2 disputed3 unverified6 true
From 26 reports we hold under this byline, at The Washington Post. Two independent readings, each made without the masthead, a quote attached to every tag. A record, never a rating. Their full record →
The bylines on the reports this story is built from. Hover one for what our passes have measured on their reporting.

Coverage, outlet by outlet

Washington Examiner
Right estimate · not a score
Washington Examiner 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at Washington Examiner → What we have measured Accusation printed unanswered a named candidate is accused of responsibility for murders, with no response carried ×1Accused named Names one accused student, citing the lawsuit; no other report we hold names any of the accused ×1Accused named Names each person charged and gives their nationality. None of the defendants is quoted. ×1Accused named Names one accused student from the civil filing and attributes the claim to the lawsuit ×1 from 3435 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
Dates the first guidance to Sept. 2 and its withdrawal to the next day. Says that version covered women too. Quotes the new document: the female guideline "is being reviewed and will be posted upon approval".
The Department of War finalized clinical guidance for testosterone screening for male service members, but left out similar best practices for treating women in the military for hormone disruptions that might affect performance. The Pentagon reissued clinical guidance for screening all male service members for testosterone deficiency on Friday, roughly two weeks after withdrawing its initial hormone replacement protocols for both men and women in uniform. Recommended Stories Women’s hormone replacement left out of Hegseth’s ‘High-T’ Department of War guidance F-16 military aircraft from Texas
Actor named: The body names the department as the one that left women out. — “The Department of War finalized clinical guidance for testosterone screening for male service members, but left out similar best practices”
Unnamed source: The case for treating women too rests on experts who are not named. — “Medical experts familiar with military operations have previously told”
Voice quoted: The only named voice is the Pentagon spokesman. No service member is quoted. — “a ready, lethal fighting force prepared to dominate the battlefield and achieve peace through strength.”
Document quoted: Quotes the guidance's own line on the women's rules, word for word. — “The female clinical practice guideline is being reviewed and will be posted upon approval.”
Headline frame: Leads with what is missing for women. — “Women’s hormone replacement left out”
Whose voice: The only named voice is the Pentagon spokesman, quoted at length. — ““a ready, lethal fighting force prepared to dominate the battlefield and achieve peace through strength.””
Unnamed source: The medical case for treating both sexes rests on experts who are not named. — “Medical experts familiar with military operations have previously told the Washington Examiner”
Sequence dated: Dates the withdrawal and the reissue, so a reader can see the gap in time. — “The initial clinical guidance, which was issued Sept. 2 and retracted the next day”
Read it at Washington Examiner → https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense/4733320/women-hormone…
T The Washington Post
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The Washington Post 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only Open this report in The AI Times → Read it at The Washington Post → What we have measured Accused's denial carried the only report carrying the Marine's side ×1Actor named via accusation the administration is named as acting, through the ranchers' charge; the price rise is stated flat ×1Asserted, not attributed a shift of power to Iran stated flat in the headline ×1Asserted or attributed the headline states as data what the body shows the chair selecting in a speech ×1 from 1237 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → — independent
Frames the men-only plan as temporary: rules for women "will be released later, officials said".
Newly updated guidelines would test male service members aged 30 and over for low testosterone. Rules for females will be released later, officials said.
Frame chosen: Presents the gap as a delay. The explanation comes from officials who are not named. — “Rules for females will be released later, officials said.”
Hedge: 'For now' in the headline frames the exclusion as temporary. — “For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only”
Whose account is default: The officials' promise that rules for women will follow closes the report, with no date attached. — “Rules for females will be released later, officials said.”
Headline frame: "For now" presents the exclusion as temporary. — “For now, Pentagon plan for testosterone testing will apply to male troops only”
Read it at The Washington Post → https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/09/18/pentagon-is…
Checked, didn’t cover
Mother Jones
Left estimate · not a score
Mother Jones 🇺🇸US · magazine · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted, not attributed 'ultra-gerrymandered' stated as fact ×1Asserted versus attributed 'Cover-up' is asserted in the report's own voice, not attributed ×1Asserted versus attributed calls it a cover-up in its own voice ×1Assertion vs attribution describes the operation as a 'violent occupation' in its own voice, with no source for the phrase ×1 from 361 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Reuters
Centre estimate · not a score
Reuters 🇺🇸US · wire · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Actor named The attacker is the subject of an active verb for both the deaths and the damage ×1Actor named No actor named for who cancelled the flights ×1Agreement stated flat, source in a tail attribution moved after the dash ×1Announcement written as settled A social-media post becomes a future indicative: the conversion will happen ×1 from 13380 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → N NPR
Centre estimate · not a score
NPR 🇺🇸US · public broadcaster · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted, not attributed that the system wrongly flagged citizens is stated flat, with no source named for it ×1Asserted versus attributed public disbelief stated as established, with nothing cited that measured it ×1Asserted versus attributed Past threats of force are stated flat, as background ×1Asymmetric labelling one side tagged by its patron, the other not ×1 from 1144 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → P Politico
Centre estimate · not a score
Politico 🇺🇸US · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Fox News
Right estimate · not a score
Fox News 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Accused named Names one former fraternity member through his lawyer's denial. The woman is anonymous by her own choice. ×1Actor in headline The headline names Trump as the one acting. The body names only Anduril. ×1A number, with no people named The only report that gives a figure counts the journalists whose communications were swept up. It names none of them. ×1Asserted, not attributed stated flat: past court defeats are asserted with no case, judge or date named ×1 from 6432 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → Breitbart
Right estimate · not a score
Breitbart 🇺🇸US · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Anyone hurt is counted, not named eight deaths given as a number only ×1Framing of motive The lede calls the denial a punishment and puts 'fake news' in quotation marks; the officials being sued are left unnamed ×1How the person shot is named a status, not a name: the only report that never uses either name calls him an illegal alien ×1How the place is described a party label attached to the city in the same clause as the casualty count ×1 from 3584 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → MSNBC
Left estimate · not a score
MSNBC 🇺🇸US · TV/radio · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Accuser not named The lede does not name the senator making the accusation ×1Actor named for the ban The White House is the subject of both verbs: it blocked journalists, then let CNN back in. ×1A first stated flat a never-before claim carried without a source attached ×1Asserted, not attributed absence of fraud evidence stated as fact ×1 from 1470 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The Hill
Centre estimate · not a score
The Hill 🇺🇸US · digital · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Accusation attributed the word lying is placed in a named politician's mouth, not the outlet's ×1Actor named No actor named for who kept reporters out ×1Actor named No actor named for who let reporters back in ×1Actor named Names the state as the one that carried out the execution. ×1 from 4315 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → The New York Times
Centre-left estimate · not a score
The New York Times 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Active and passive voice the ship is 'targeted' with no actor, one sentence before a named actor is given for the Saudi attack ×1Active vs passive voice Pike is named as the killer in the active voice; the botched execution has no actor named ×1Actor label Names the shooter by its backer, not by its own name. ×1Actor named Names the official and what the process did to Pike. ×1 from 3862 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times → National Review
Centre-right estimate · not a score
National Review 🇺🇸US · magazine · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Asserted not attributed Doubt about the allegation is stated flat, in the outlet's own voice ×1Asserted not attributed An argument about deterrence is stated as fact ×1Asserted versus attributed calls it an abuse of power in its own voice ×1Asserted versus attributed 'Abuse of presidential power' is stated flat ×1 from 414 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
Silence is recorded, not inferred — each of these was read when we built this story and carried nothing on this event.
We could not read these
The Wall Street Journal
Centre-right estimate · not a score
The Wall Street Journal 🇺🇸US · newspaper · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Nothing scored yet. We do not carry a rating for any outlet — only what we have measured from published text. Outlet profile in The AI Times → Associated Press
Centre estimate · not a score
Associated Press 🇺🇸US · wire · independent No report held from this outlet on this story. What we have measured Dating and attribution Dates the signing to Aug. 6, 2026 and writes ord ×1Dating and attribution Carries a dateline correction, repeated three ti ×1How hard the claim is stated Marks "birth tourism" as the administration's ow ×1How hard the claim is stated high ×1 from 223 articles we hold · quote attached Outlet profile in The AI Times →
These are must-cite outlets for this desk that we did not manage to read when we built this story. That is a gap in our reach, not a silence on their part, and it is not evidence of anything about this story.

Sign in to The AI Times

Everything is free while we are building it. Signing in is how comments, likes and your reading stay yours.

Continue with Google

Sign-in is coming soon.

By continuing you agree to be a reader of a paper that shows its working.
×