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Pete Hegseth's sworn nemesis, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly, slammed the Secretray of Defense on live television, declaring that the U.S. Military needed better leadership, rather than testosterone screenings.
Appearing on MS NOW with former press secretary Jen Psaki, the Senator raged against Hegseth's proposed plan to make the military more "high-t." He said, "The U.S. military does not need more testosterone; it needs better leadership."
Under the new initiative, which was widely mocked on social media, a screening would be required for men over 30, which would provide them with optional testosterone replacement therapy for those who have been flagged for deficiencies in the hormone. Kelly, a former Navy captain, called on President Donald Trump to fire him.
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"The president should fire Pete Hegseth," Kelly said while on the show. "He’s making awful decisions, is putting service members at risks that I would not have expected when I served that a secretary of Defense would make these sort of decisions, nor a president."
In a letter to the Defense secretary, which was dated on Monday, a group of Democrats cited "serious concerns" about the screening and cited “longstanding medical guidance” opposing routine population-wide testosterone screenings. According to The Hill, Sens. Richard Blumenthal, Mazie Hirono, Gary Peters, Elizabeth Warren, and Ruben Gallego all signed the letter.
"We write to express serious concerns regarding the Department of Defense’s announcement that it will begin annual testosterone screening for millions of servicemembers despite longstanding medical guidance recommending against routine population-wide screening," the letter read. "The Department has provided no evidence that this sweeping new policy will improve force readiness or health, nor has it explained the scientific basis, costs, or risks associated with implementing it across the force."
According to the letter, "less than six percent of men between 30 and 79 have testosterone deficiency." It adds, "While testosterone replacement therapy is appropriate for certain patients with clinically confirmed hypogonadism, treatment carries known risks and requires careful diagnosis and long-term medical monitoring."
"We recognize that testosterone deficiency may be a legitimate medical concern for some service members, particularly those serving in high-stress operational environments," it continued. "Indeed, the Department has spent years studying this issue and, as recently as 2025, reaffirmed that routine screening is not recommended and that evaluation should be based on symptoms and established clinical guidelines."
The group then asked Hegseth to respond to a set of questions by August 5th. "The health and readiness of our armed forces depend on clear, consistent, and science-driven leadership. Thank you for your earnest attention to this matter. We look forward to your response," they added.
Pete's problems
The testosterone initiative was launched last week, with Hegseth announcing the screenings in a bizarre video. "At the Department of War, we have the most elite warriors on the face of the Earth," Hegseth, wearing a white shirt and red and white striped tie, said.
"Every single day, you are pushed to your absolute physical and mental limits to master the profession of arms," he added. "We demand your all, and you give it. But while we invest heavily in our weapons systems, platforms, and gear, our most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter."
According to Hegseth, the U.S. had a "sacred duty to maintain that advantage Which is why we must constantly look for new ways to optimize your performance, your resilience, and your long-term health." The Trump official explained that to achieve these objectives, he was "authorizing a new screening program for testosterone deficiency for our service members, ensuring you have the right testosterone levels to operate at your absolute best."
Hegseth noted that it was "well-established science that as we age, testosterone levels often naturally drop." He specified that any service member over 30 would undergo the screening as part of their annual "periodic health assessment."
The secretary continued, stating that while those under 30 would have access to the test, participation would remain voluntary. "If treatment is recommended, it's entirely your choice to receive testosterone replacement therapy," Hegseth added.
Hegseth maintained that the program focused on "restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight." He went on, "We owe our warriors the absolute best medical care in the world, and this program delivers on that obligation.
"Taking care of your long-term health means ensuring you remain strong, resilient, and capable, not just for your next deployment, but for the rest of your life, so you can thrive long after you take off the uniform," claimed Hegseth. "As we know, the modern battlefield is brutal and unrelenting. It requires and demands maximum psychological and mental readiness. And by addressing these health markers early, we're keeping you on the leading edge of lethality and giving you the same level of support that you give this nation, the absolute best."
