Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) condemned a new Department of Defense plan to screen U.S. service members’ testosterone levels and provide replacement therapy this week.
The dispute highlights a growing ideological conflict over the definition of military readiness and the role of medical interventions within the armed forces. Critics argue that such programs prioritize cultural signaling over actual combat effectiveness.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the initiative to monitor and supplement testosterone levels among troops [1]. Duckworth dismissed the program, calling it "performative bull-shit" [2]. She said that the screening process is unnecessary for maintaining a ready fighting force [2].
Duckworth further characterized the nature of the medical intervention by comparing it to other hormone treatments. "Sounds like gender-affirming care to me," Duckworth said [3].
The senator's criticism comes amid broader debates regarding the allocation of the annual defense authorization bill, which totals $1.15 trillion [4]. The scale of the budget has intensified scrutiny over how the Department of Defense implements new health and wellness mandates across the military.
Duckworth said that the program serves as a performative measure rather than a strategic necessity [2]. The Department of Defense has not yet detailed the specific metrics that will determine which service members receive replacement therapy [1].
“"It’s performative bull-shit."”
This clash reflects a deeper political struggle over the cultural direction of the U.S. military. By framing a masculinity-focused health initiative as akin to gender-affirming care, Duckworth is challenging the Defense Secretary's attempt to link hormone levels to military strength, suggesting that such policies are more about social optics than tactical utility.
