Senate Democrats press Hegseth on testosterone plan details

Senate Democrats are demanding answers from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon’s new testosterone screening policy for troops, seeking specifics on how the directive would be implemented and its scientific justification.

In a letter sent Friday, Democratic Sens. Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Mazie Hirono (Hawaii), Gary Peters (Mich.), Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Ruben Gallego (Ariz.) pressed Hegseth for answers about the new directive, which would mandate annual testosterone screenings for service members aged 30 and older.

“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,” the senators wrote in their letter.

The letter came amid concerns, which Hegseth argued would ensure troops were in optimal health and could meet performance standards.

Service members under age 30 could voluntarily opt into testosterone testing, and testosterone replacement therapy would also be voluntary.

Skepticism surrounding the new policy, which has yet to be implemented, includes concerns that it could incentivize troops to self-medicate or potentially abuse performance-enhancing drugs.

The senators also questioned how the policy could affect women in uniform, pointing to gaps in the Military Health System regarding care for servicewomen experiencing menopause and other health issues.

“Coupled with the Department’s recent repeated efforts to redefine military culture around an exaggerated conception of masculinity, this initiative risks undermining years of work to ensure that women servicemembers are evaluated and valued based solely on their ability to perform the mission,” they wrote in the letter.

“This stark disparity suggests that the Department’s priorities are being shaped less by an equitable assessment of force health than by the Secretary’s preferred cultural narrative.”

This comes as part of Hegseth’s broader effort to reshape military fitness standards. Since helming the Department of Defense, Hegseth has ordered the agency to revise its physical fitness tests and body fat standards, while promoting what he has described as a stronger focus on warfighter readiness.

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