In the 118th Congress, even the color of representatives’ official pins became a political disagreement.

House Republicans suspected that the color green on the pin for the 118th Congress was chosen by the outgoing Democratic majority to highlight the Green New Deal. It turns out their suspicions were at least partly correct.

To distance themselves from being connected to the environmental legislation, Republicans reportedly spent $40,000 in January to replace the pins.

“I heard some guys and gals grumbling that it’s an environmental tribute or something like that — which, hey, I like the color green, I have a lot of John Deere equipment in that color,” Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) said.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), chairwoman of the House Administration Committee during the 117th Congress, helped pick out the color and design of the next pin for the incoming Congress. She said she veered away from the typical red or blue design.

“They’re either red or blue, and it’s like, OK, we divide up the country as red and blue — why don’t we do something that is not red and blue, but is neutral, right?” Lofgren said. “And I thought, something that is a symbol for a clean environment. So I thought, ‘Green.’”

Members of Congress are required to wear pins to symbolize to staffers and Capitol Police that they are, in fact, members, giving them access to move freely throughout the Capitol building. However, the pin does not necessarily have to be the one issued at the start of the congressional term. The pin simply needs to be issued by Capitol law enforcement.

“There were a number of members who had self-styled pins that they were wearing that hadn’t been issued by the House,” Rep. Joe Morelle (D-NY) said. “I encouraged a number of them not to wear pins that were not issued by the sergeant-at-arms for security reasons.”

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House GOP leadership issued new dark blue pins to replace the green ones.

“Every Congressional session we get a new pin — it’s our ID on the floor for the next two years,” Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) said on X. “Today we’re getting a new pin, half way through the term because the @HouseGOP didn’t like the color. Big congrats to them on their first tangible accomplishment of the 118th.”