After a week-and-a-half of taunting Republicans over Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) dropping the chamber’s dress code to accommodate his arrested development obsession with wearing only hoodies and shorts at work, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) is backing down and will wear a suit when presiding over the Senate or speaking and voting on the floor in the chamber, according to a report by Punchbowl News reporter Heather Caygle. Apparently Fetterman will still dress like a slob at committee hearings or when voting from the cloak room, however. (Update at end. Fetterman confirms.)
![](jpg/fetterman-senate-screen-image-cspan-09202023-600x338.jpg)
“Some Senate fashion NEWS: Sen. John Fetterman said during Dem lunch he will wear a suit when speaking or presiding over the chamber. If not in a suit, Fetterman will vote from the cloakroom, per sources familiar with the discussion…This comes after Sen. Manchin was circulating a Senate dress code resolution. The SHORTS resolution, as @burgessev wrote yesterday.
Some Senate fashion NEWS:
Sen. John Fetterman said during Dem lunch he will wear a suit when speaking or presiding over the chamber
If not in a suit, Fetterman will vote from the cloakroom, per sources familiar with the discussion
— Heather Caygle (@heatherscope) September 27, 2023
Burgess Evans reported Tuesday on the resolution by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV), “Got ahold of Manchin’s dress code resolution. It’s called “SHow Our Respect To the Senate Resolution’’ or the ‘‘SHORTS Resolution.” It only pertains to men, and says they must wear a “coat, tie, and slacks or other long pants””
Got ahold of Manchin’s dress code resolution. It’s called “SHow Our Respect To the Senate Resolution’’ or the ‘‘SHORTS Resolution.”
It only pertains to men, and says they must wear a “coat, tie, and slacks or other long pants” https://t.co/w2iE2ioEf5
— Burgess Everett (asapburgessev on 🧵) (@burgessev) September 26, 2023
Fetterman joked about the dress code controversy Tuesday night on MSNBC, “Ted Cruz could show up dressed like Spiderman and I would be a-okay with that. I do think we have more important kinds of things to be worrying about, you know, whether it’s gold bars in a mattress or whether it’s the shutdown or the impeachment”
.@JohnFetterman: “@tedcruz could show up dressed like Spiderman & I would be a-OK w/ that. I do think we have more important kinds of things to be worrying about, you know, whether it’s gold bars in a mattress or whether it’s the shutdown or the impeachment” pic.twitter.com/Fkt1AhTNiL
— Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) September 27, 2023
Last week Fetterman attacked Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) over her ‘Beetlejuice; scandal, “I figure if I take up vaping and grabbing the hog during a live musical, they’ll make me a folk hero.”
I figure if I take up vaping and grabbing the hog during a live musical, they'll make me a folk hero. https://t.co/Tx6wTbWalJ
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 19, 2023
Fetterman also went after Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene for showing pictures of Hunter Biden at a Congressional hearing, “Her platform, you know, really, she runs on more and more dingaling, you know, pics, you know, on in the meetings over in Congress”
Democrat Senator John Fetterman responds to concerns over changing the Senate dress code to accommodate his hoodies and gym shorts:
"Her platform, you know, really, she runs on more and more dingaling, you know, pics, you know, on in the meetings over in Congress" pic.twitter.com/t86oC5S7VZ
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) September 19, 2023
Fetterman attacked Republicans as a group, “After a long week of whining about my outfit choices, the GOP is heading home. Good thing they didn’t have anything important to do this week…”
After a long week of whining about my outfit choices, the GOP is heading home.
Good thing they didn't have anything important to do this week… https://t.co/UMGQaziywm pic.twitter.com/OZr0cn6GHA
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 21, 2023
Fetterman mocked Republicans and used his attire as a bargaining chip for Ukraine funding, “If those jagoffs in the House stop trying to shut our government down, and fully support Ukraine, then I will save democracy by wearing a suit on the Senate floor next week.”
Sen Fetterman puts out a Stmt: “If those jagoffs in the House stop trying to shut our government down, and fully support Ukraine, then I will save democracy by wearing a suit on the Senate floor next week.”
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 20, 2023
Fetterman presided over the Senate last week wearing his slob attire, observing, “The world didn’t spin off its axis. You know, I just did it…I think we will still go on.”
Sen Fetterman says of his presiding over the Senate just now in shorts and short-sleeved button down with no tie: “The world didn't spin off its axis. You know, I just did it…I think we will still go on.” pic.twitter.com/VL9SRbbyMk
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) September 20, 2023
After all the tough talk, mocking and bravado, the 54-year-old Fetterman backed down and agreed to dress like a grown-up while on the Senate floor.
UPDATE: Business Insider gets confirmation from Fetterman, ““The whole silly dress code thing was discussed,” Fetterman says of caucus today. “I continue to vote from the door, and when I ever speak on the floor, I was always going to wear a suit,” he said. “So this is just a non-issue.” confirming @heatherscope”
“The whole silly dress code thing was discussed,” Fetterman says of caucus today.
"I continue to vote from the door, and when I ever speak on the floor, I was always going to wear a suit," he said. "So this is just a non-issue."
confirming @heatherscope https://t.co/F0OnxDgiQV
— bryan metzger (@metzgov) September 27, 2023