Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Repeals Senate Floor Dress Code For Sen. John Fetterman, GOP Cries Foul

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) announced that staff for the chamber’s Sergeant-at-Arms will officially stop enforcing a dress code on the Senate floor.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania) can be credited with inspiring the change, as he has been wearing hoodies and gym shorts after returning from medical leave in April and voting from doorways to avoid being penalized for his casual attire.

“There has been an informal dress code that was enforced,” said Schumer in a statement. “Senators are able to choose what they wear on the Senate floor. I will continue to wear a suit.”

It is unclear if the previous dress code was actually written down anywhere, but Schumer stated that staff will no longer fine senators for their clothing choices.

Some conservative members of the chamber disagreed with Schumer’s announcement.

“I represent the people of Kansas, and much like when I get dressed up to go to a wedding, it’s to honor the bride and groom, you go to a funeral you get dressed up to honor the family of the deceased,” told Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) said in a statement, adding that Senaotrs should maintain a certain level of “decorum.”

Fetterman responded to these criticisms while speaking with reporters on Monday.

“They’re freaking out, I don’t understand it,” he said of his colleagues. “Like, aren’t there more important things we should be working on right now instead of, you know, that I might be dressing like a slob?”

“I think we should all want to be more comfortable,” Fetterman continued. “And now we have that option, and if people prefer to wear a suit, then that’s great.”

Fetterman has suffered numerous setbacks in his brief time in public life. He had a stroke while campaigning in the 2022 election and then was hospitalized for depression after entering the Senate.