Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.) criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's new testosterone screening and replacement program, comparing his 'rugged macho man' persona to hypermasculine figures in Tom of Finland's erotic art and suggesting it reflects homoeroticism masked by posturing. Balint's remark is part of broader Democratic criticism of Hegseth's policies on gender-related military health care — the Pentagon justified killing transgender hormone coverage on cost grounds, then launched a testosterone program Balint argues is ideologically motivated. The comparison uses art history as political commentary rather than literal analysis, which is why her framing reads as pointed opinion rather than straightforward reporting.