Senators Demand Justification for Medically Unnecessary Testosterone Screening Policy for Servicemembers

[WASHINGTON, DC] - Following Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's bizarre video announcing mandatory annual testosterone screening for millions of servicemembers, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) wrote Hegseth raising concerns about the new policy and seeking information about its medical justification. Fewer than six percent of men between 30 and 79 have testosterone deficiency.

"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.

The senators wrote that the proposed policy "risks undermining years of work to ensure that women servicemembers are evaluated and valued based solely on their ability to perform the mission." The senators also noted that health programs that primarily impact women - like perimenopause and menopause - remain chronically underfunded and under resourced, emphasizing, "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."

The full text of the senators' letter is available here and copied below.

Secretary Hegseth,

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 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.

Routine population-wide screening for testosterone deficiency is not recommended by many major medical organizations because the benefits of screening asymptomatic individuals have not been established.^[1] Currently, less than six percent of men between 30 and 79 have testosterone deficiency.^[2] 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.^[3]

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. While the Department rushes to institute automatic testosterone testing for men, the Military Health System remains inadequately prepared to meet the needs of servicewomen experiencing perimenopause and menopause, and Congress has had to press DoD merely to study persistent gaps in their care. 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.

We recognize that testosterone deficiency may be a legitimate medical concern for some servicemembers, particularly those serving in high-stress operational environments. 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. Against that backdrop, the Department's decision to implement annual screening for a much broader population represents a significant departure from its previous approach and warrants a clear explanation of the evidence supporting that change.

To better understand the rationale for these decisions and their consequences, we request responses to the following questions no later than August 5, 2026:

1. Please describe in detail the process by which the Department of Defense developed this policy to screen service members for testosterone deficiency. What specific data, analysis, or expert medical guidance informed your decision to screen and for and recommend testosterone for servicemembers?
2. What evidence does the Department have that testosterone screening or treatment improves military readiness, performance, or lethality?
3. Did the Department conduct a cost analysis of its proposed testosterone deficiency screening program? Provide a comprehensive breakdown of the new program budget and associated expenses (including screening, treatment, and program administration).
4. Following investigations into the 2022 death of a Navy SEAL candidate, the Department increased its focus on detecting unauthorized use of testosterone and other performance-enhancing substances within portions of the force. How does this initiative align with those efforts, and what safeguards will the Department implement to ensure it does not inadvertently encourage misuse of testosterone or other performance-enhancing drugs?
5. Given the Department's previous concerns regarding the use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing substances, how does the Department intend to ensure that this initiative does not inadvertently encourage servicemembers to seek testosterone or other hormone supplements outside appropriate medical supervision?
6. What specific testing protocols will be used (e.g., timing of tests, number of confirmatory tests, diagnostic thresholds)? Will the Department screen all servicemembers for testosterone levels?
7. What quality control measures will the Department implement to prevent overdiagnosis, inappropriate treatment, or non-medically indicated requests for testosterone therapy, particularly among servicemembers under age 30 who may be influenced by social media or other messaging promoting testosterone as a means to improve physical performance or masculinity?
8. Will service members who decline testosterone therapy face any adverse administrative, medical readiness, or career consequences?
9. 1. How will the Department ensure that participation in testing or treatment does not become coercive in practice, particularly in operational units where readiness pressures are high?
10. Is the Department currently considering the approval or administration of other performance-enhancing substances?
11. Evidence suggests that testosterone replacement therapy may affect mood and behavior in some patients and requires ongoing clinical monitoring. Does the Department have sufficient medical and behavioral health resources to safely support servicemembers receiving testosterone replacement therapy, including access to appropriate follow-up care, behavioral health services, and specialist consultation?^[4]
12. Will the Department implement this program by procuring or engaging with external contractors or vendors? How will the Department ensure servicemembers' private medical information will not be misused or accessed by unauthorized third-parties, especially from foreign adversaries?

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.

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