I work for the Department of Defense, and I've worn my Kilt (with jacket and tie) to the office numerous times. I've never had any problems. Being one of the office eccentrics, they just don't try to stop me anymore. I usually wear western wear, so they're used to putting up with me.

We are a bit more casual than the Washington types, and being in a field office, we're not as concerned with "professional appearances" as the beltway types. Since we don't deal with the public directly, my immediate management isn't really concerned what we look like, as long as we get the job done. We're an engineering outfit with a distinct blue collar edge.

When dealing with the vast bureaucratic beast, the key is to be like a parasite. Latch on, get your sustanance, but don't cause too much irritation, lest the beast be annoyed and roll over and squish you like a bug.

The *only* way you'll win is to

a) find some support higher up in the management chain, and get them to OK the kilt (but this will also make you the instant enemy of the immediate management, so if you need immediate management support to get a merit promotion, kiss promotion goodbye..

or

b) the nuclear option, i.e., take it to the world and media, and make a huge stink, which is really HIGH stakes, since you will either win big, get to wear your kilt, and management won't touch you, or you get squashed like a bug, and the bureaucratic leviathon rolls on, uncaring and unconcerned with the wreckage it made of your life.

Working for large bureaucracies can be very rewarding if you skillfully extract maximum money/resources/fun from them without irritating the beast enough to squash you. There are many success stories along this line. But the beast is dangerous when aroused. Principles, and "big picture" justice means nothing to the beast. Being "right" is scant protection.