GETTING WITH THE TIMES

Paul Ryan Moves to ‘Modernize’ Dress Code of Speaker’s Lobby

Faced backlash after female reporter was barred because she was wearing a sleeveless dress.

Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday that he will work with the House sergeant-at-arms to “modernize” the dress code in the House and speaker’s lobby after complaints about a rule that women must have their shoulders covered. Ryan faced backlash over the decades-old rule after a female reporter was recently barred from the Speaker’s lobby because she was wearing a sleeveless dress. “Decorum is important, especially for this institution, and a dress code in the chamber and in the lobby makes sense,” Ryan said. “But we also don’t need to bar otherwise accepted contemporary business attire, so look for a change on that soon.”