McConnell isn’t happy.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, representing Kentucky, criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to relax the Senate’s informal dress code. McConnell affirmed that GOP senators, despite the change, intend to maintain a more formal attire for their work.
According to The Hill, “I believe it’s fair to say that the majority, if not all, Republican senators are of the opinion that we should dress professionally for our duties. Therefore, I don’t foresee us donning jeans on the Senate floor anytime soon,” McConnell told reporters in response to Schumer’s recent announcement allowing senators to choose their attire on the Senate floor.
The modification in the Senate’s dress code seemed to accommodate the preferences of freshman Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, known for his signature hoodie. On Tuesday, Fetterman arrived for work wearing a dark short-sleeved collared shirt and dark shorts.
Previously, senators were required to wear a coat and tie when on the Senate floor. If they appeared in short-sleeved shirts or gym attire, they had to cast their votes from the cloakroom adjacent to the Senate floor, only partially entering the chamber to register their “yea” or “nay” votes.
Former Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a North Cheyenne chief of Native American heritage from Colorado, even needed special permission to wear a bolo tie while serving in the Senate from 1993 to 2005.
It’s worth noting that the revised dress code, announced over the weekend, does not extend to Senate staff or other visitors to the floor. They are still required to adhere to the traditional dress code, wearing coats and ties or appropriate business attire.
Several GOP senators expressed their concerns about the relaxation of decorum rules within the Senate’s historic chamber. “Senator Schumer has been systematically dismantling Senate traditions, from eliminating the filibuster rule to this recent change. And for what purpose? To accommodate one individual who prefers not to wear a suit?” lamented Senator John Cornyn from Texas, referring to Fetterman. He added, “I don’t believe this will significantly alter our conduct, but it’s another sign of his lack of respect for the Senate as an institution.”