Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) took aim at Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday, labeling his new Pentagon policy requiring testosterone screenings for service members as a sign of “homoeroticism” masked by homophobia.
Hegseth announced this week that all U.S. military personnel aged 30 and older, regardless of gender, will undergo testosterone level checks. Those who need treatment can opt for replacement therapy, a move the secretary framed as part of a broader push to keep troops combat-ready.
“I think it’s indicative of the fact that there are so many people in this administration that have some weird, like, intense homoerotic feelings towards men while also being incredibly homophobic,” Balint told reporter Scott MacFarlane with MeidasTouch. “And not just homophobic, but like hate-mongering, fear-mongering about the LGBTQ community.”
The openly gay Vermont Democrat said the homoerotic undertones aren’t what bother her. “The weird part is that they pretend that that’s not what it’s about,” she continued. “And so, Pete Hegseth is like the example of this manly, manly, rugged, macho man.”
Balint likened Hegseth’s image to the hypermasculine art of Tom of Finland, the Finnish artist known for his stylized, muscular male figures. “So I feel like they must be looking at that as like their example for what men look like,” she added.
Hegseth, a former National Guard officer, has championed a return to traditional masculinity in the ranks. In September, he told high-ranking officials at Quantico, Virginia, that he doesn’t want to see “fat generals and admirals” and has imposed stricter fitness and grooming standards. He’s also posted workout videos on social media, including sessions with troops at Guantánamo Bay.
The Defense Department released a video of Hegseth announcing the screening program, in which he said the “most decisive tactical advantage will always be the individual warfighter.” He stressed the screenings are “not about artificial enhancement” but about maintaining “the leading edge of lethality.”
President Trump has long used physical stamina as a political cudgel, questioning the health of opponents like Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris during his campaigns. Balint’s critique taps into a wider Democratic unease about the administration’s focus on hypermasculinity, which some see as a distraction from deeper policy debates.
As Democrats grapple with their own internal divisions — including narrow majorities that could empower left-wing factions — Balint’s pointed rhetoric underscores a party willing to attack cultural signals from the Trump administration. Meanwhile, Democrats are vowing to retake the House and challenge Trump’s economic record, even as they spar over messaging on identity and policy.
The Pentagon has not responded to Balint’s comments. The screening program is expected to roll out in the coming months, with officials insisting it’s purely about performance optimization.
