The United States Senate has dropped its dress code and will allow Senators to wear whatever they’d like to the Senate floor. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer made the decision by directing the sergeant at arms to stop enforcing the rule. The dress code stated that male Senators and staff must wear pants, shirt, tie/coat, and shoes. Basically, they must wear a suit. Women, however, were allowed to wear business casual. A previous dress code prior to 2017 restricted women from wearing sleeveless dresses. All staffers, however, must abide by the most recent dress code. This means that the lack of rule enforcement only applies to Senators.
The only Senator who simply refuses to abide by the dress code is Democrat John Fetterman from Pennsylvania. He routinely wears hoodies and basketball shorts with tennis shoes. A picture shows him alongside Bernie Sanders at a podium wearing a hoodie and shorts. This new rule, or lack thereof, obviously favors Fetterman and nobody else.
There is a school of thought that gives Fetterman a pass due to his traumatic brain injury, which makes no sense. If his brain injury prevents him from dressing himself properly, then it also prevents him from serving as a Senator. Fetterman has worn suits and ties on occasion to the Senate floor. He simply chooses not to the majority of the time.
SOURCES:
Chuck Schumer axes Senate dress code: report
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer loosens Senate’s informal dress code
Senate to no longer enforce dress code for senators | Fox News
John Fetterman can now wear shorts on the Senate floor after dress code change
Republicans criticize new Senate dress code: ‘Stop lowering the bar’ | The Hill
Sen. Chuck Schumer loosens informal Senate dress code – CBS News
Sen. Chuck Schumer Senate relaxes formal dress code on Senate floor | Morning in America – YouTube
How to Dress for the Summer Following Congressional Dress Code Debacle – YouTube
