U.S. Senate loosens dress code, scoring win for casually dressed Fetterman
The U.S. Senate has ended its informal dress code rules, allowing senators to wear whatever they wish while in the upper chamber.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer quietly directed the Senate’s Sergeant at Arms to stop enforcing the chamber’s informal dress code for lawmakers, according to Axios.
The new rule went into effect Monday.
“Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit,” Schumer told Axios.
The change appears to be a nod to U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Braddock, who often wears shorts and hoodies. Fetterman wore a suit and tie initially after arriving in Washington, but has been sporting his more casual attire since returning to the Senate after a bout of clinical depression.
Some have criticized the move. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said the rules were changed to “appease Fetterman,” described the decision as disgraceful and said it disrespects the country’s institutions.
Fetterman mocked Greene on social media for showing explicit and nude photos of Hunter Biden during a Congressional hearing in July.
“Thankfully, the nation’s lower chamber lives by a higher code of conduct: displaying ding-a-ling pics in public hearings,” Fetterman wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Thankfully, the nation's lower chamber lives by a higher code of conduct: displaying ding-a-ling pics in public hearings. https://t.co/a4sLQ7nSBL
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 18, 2023
The new rule will benefit other senators. Over the years, some have had to get special permission to wear ceremonial attire such as Native American bolo ties. U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., has been known to show up to vote in gym clothes and then signal yea or nay from the cloakroom just off the Senate floor to avoid breaching decorum, according to The Hill.
The former rule meant that senators had to wear business attire while on the floor, which meant suit and ties for men.
Five years ago, the clothing rules were relaxed for women senators after lobbying from U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. Women members such as U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., have taken advantage of this by often going sleeveless.
The new rule does not apply to congressional staff or visitors to the Senate.
Ryan Deto is a TribLive reporter covering politics, Pittsburgh and Allegheny County news. A native of California’s Bay Area, he joined the Trib in 2022 after spending more than six years covering Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh City Paper, including serving as managing editor. He can be reached at rdeto@triblive.com.
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