Dave Bonhoff, a retired Baltimore County police officer and bus driver for Krise Transportation serving the Littlestown Area School District in Adams County, Pennsylvania, resigned Friday after being asked to remove a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hat while transporting students.
The request followed a student complaint, with supervisors suggesting he either remove the hat or switch to an American-flag-themed alternative.
Known affectionately as “Mr. Dave from Bus #73,” Bonhoff told WHP-TV he chose to leave rather than comply.
“If that wasn’t a condition of my employment, I’d be back to work tomorrow,” he said. “I miss the kids. Those kids and I had a great relationship.”
Bonhoff defended the hat as a symbol of patriotism, not partisanship.
“There’s nothing in this hat that says anything about partisanship. I think that saying this hat is political is absurd. It’s patriotic,” he told the outlet.
When asked about its association with President Donald Trump, Bonhoff responded, “I would say that making America great is what we should all strive to be. Anybody who doesn’t want America to prosper, I take issue with them.”
He also noted that past presidents, including Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, have used the phrase “Make America Great Again,” highlighting its broader patriotic roots, according to The Blaze.
Officials emphasized that Bonhoff was employed by Krise Transportation, not the school district.
Acting superintendent Al Moyer explained that transportation services are outsourced and stressed that schools and public institutions must maintain political neutrality.
Krise cited a dress code prohibiting apparel with “text or graphics deemed inappropriate by management,” including political messaging, while denying any explicit ultimatum was given.
Despite the controversy, Bonhoff remained steadfast.
“I want to be able to express myself,” he said. “I don’t want somebody to tell me, ‘Well, my feelings are hurt. You got to take the hat off,’” he said.
Republican Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano publicly defended Bonhoff, calling the situation an example of intimidation disguised as sensitivity.
“Mr. Bonhoff is a retired police officer who continued serving his community by safely transporting children to school. Yet he was effectively forced out of his job because he wore a hat that read ‘Make America Great Again,’” Mastriano said, according to Newsweek.
“Whether someone agrees with that message is completely irrelevant. In America, citizens do not lose their First Amendment rights simply because someone else claims to be offended.”
The MAGA hat has become a polarizing symbol, closely tied to President Trump and the Republican movement.
While policies often limit political displays for school employees to maintain neutrality, critics argue that selective enforcement can suppress lawful expression.
Bonhoff’s resignation underscores the ongoing tension between personal freedoms and workplace rules in politically sensitive environments.
Ultimately, Bonhoff’s decision to step down rather than compromise his principles has drawn national attention, prompting broader debate over First Amendment rights, political expression, and the limits of workplace policy in schools and public institutions.
WATCH:
