There is no F.D.A.-approved testosterone product for women. Insurance won't cover it. Many doctors won't prescribe it. It's become a cultural phenomenon.
Senior department officials who were defense lawyers for the president and those in his orbit are now in jobs that typically must approve any such payout, underscoring potential ethical conflicts.
At least four Republican senators, including the Senate majority leader, signaled their opposition to Paul Ingrassia, the president's pick to lead the Office of Special Counsel.
The mishap, during an anniversary celebration for the Marine Corps attended by the vice president and defense secretary, underscores safety concerns that Gov. Gavin Newsom voiced before Saturday's event at Camp Pendleton.