Senate Reverses Backbend on Dress Code, Fetterman Fires Back With Popular Meme

The Senate on Wednesday night unanimously approved a resolution to codify a formal dress code, requiring senators to wear proper business attire including ties for men.

Approval of the bipartisan resolution comes after the shorts-and-hoodie clad Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., inspired sartorial accommodations earlier this month from Democratic leaders. The lax dress code drew criticism from traditionalists on and off Capitol Hill, including The New York Times editorial board.

Changing his earlier position on the matter, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Wednesday evening thanked the bipartisan co-sponsors of the resolution, Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Mitt Romney, R-Utah, for striking a compromise.

“Though we’ve never had an official dress code, the events over the past week have made us all feel as though formalizing one is the right path forward,” Schumer said. “I deeply appreciate Senator Fetterman working with me to come to an agreement that we all find acceptable, and of course I appreciate Sen. Manchin and Sen. Romney’s leadership on this issue.”

Fetterman tweeted a popular Kevin James meme in response after the resolution was approved.

Earlier in the day, Fetterman said wearing a suit on the Senate floor "came up" during the caucus' lunch, but declined to comment further on the discussion.

Fetterman, who usually wears shorts and hoodie sweatshirts to work, had celebrated the recent decision by Schumer to relax the Senate's informal dress code, which caused an uproar among many senators.