Dispute in Washington
Shorts and sneakers allowed: US Senate abolishes dress code – causing a lot of trouble
John Fetterman waves to members of the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. The senator from Pennsylvania is known for his casual clothing style
© Jacquelyn Martin / Picture Alliance
US Senator John Fetterman hates suits and prefers to wear shorts and hoodies. This was previously taboo in the chamber of Congress, but this informal rule has now been overturned – to the dismay of Republicans.
The background to the abolition of the dress code is the entry of John Fetterman into the Senate – even if Schumer did not explicitly mention his name. Fetterman has represented the state of Pennsylvania in Washington since January and usually wears his usual outfit of shorts, sneakers and a hoodie or short-sleeved baggy shirt, in which he campaigned last year. In order not to get into trouble because of his casual clothing, the 54-year-old has often voted from doorsteps or just stuck his head into the plenary hall. He wears suits to committee meetings when necessary.
“I’ll wear a bikini in the Senate tomorrow”
Many Republican senators reacted outraged to Schumer’s rule change. It’s a “sad day in the Senate” and the people represented by Fetterman and Schumer should be ashamed, said Republican Roger Marshall of Kansas. “I represent the people of Kansas, and just as I dress up at a wedding to honor the bride and groom, I dress up at a funeral to honor the family of the deceased.” Senators should have a certain level of decency.
Tommy Tuberville, an Alabama Republican and former Auburn University football coach, teased that he would appear in a “coach’s outfit” at his next Senate appearance. And Tuberville’s colleague from Maine, Susan Collins, joked: “I’ll wear a bikini in the Senate tomorrow.” There is a certain dignity that needs to be maintained in the Senate, the senator warned. “And abolishing the dress code, in my opinion, degrades the institution.”
The Republicans also expressed their anger over the end of the dress code in a letter to Schumer: “The world is watching us in this room, and we must protect the sanctity of this place at all costs,” says the letter, which was sent by 46 of the It was signed by 49 Republican senators. “Allowing casual wear in the Senate is a disrespect to the institution we serve and the American families we represent.” Schumer must therefore immediately reverse “this misguided measure”.
Fetterman wants to use new freedom sparingly
An etiquette expert was less horrified because casual clothing has now become commonplace in many workplaces in the United States, especially since the coronavirus pandemic and the increase in home working. The nation will have to wait and see what effect the Senate’s new dress code will have, Richard Thompson Ford, a law professor at Stanford University in California and author of the book “Dress Codes: How the Laws of Fashion Made History,” told USA Today. “It simply acknowledges that the norms of professional dress have changed.” There will probably always be some kind of dress code in public places, explained Ford. “But there is no doubt that the trend is moving away from formal rules.”
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Fetterman denies being a driving force behind the rule change. “No, it really wasn’t me,” the senator assured reporters at the Congress building on the way to a vote. He still couldn’t understand the criticism: “You’re freaking out, I don’t understand it,” said Fetterman, dressed in shorts and a short-sleeved shirt. “Aren’t there more important things we should be working on right now instead of me dressing like a slut?” The senator emphasized that he did not want to overuse his new freedom. “It’s nice to have this opportunity, but I will use it sparingly and not overuse it.”
According to media reports, when Fetterman reached the Senate chamber, he still voted from the door despite the dress code being abolished. “Small steps,” he told reporters as he boarded the elevator to return to his office.
Sources: United States Senate, USA Today, Associated Press, “The Hill”, “Axios”