During a 31-hour House Energy and Commerce Committee marathon on May 14, 2025, debating Trump’s budget bill and Medicaid cuts, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 71) was caught sleeping, head down, eyes shut. The image sparked viral conservative outrage over “taxpayer-funded naps.”
For context, several prominent conservatives called it a “disgrace,” dubbing her “Rip Van Dingell.” In a desperate attempt to regain the upper hand, Dingell retorted she was pondering affordable healthcare after battling Republicans.
In any case, the scandal began with a viral post on X (formerly Twitter). “🚨 UNREAL: Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell caught ASLEEP during a live committee hearing this morning,” the post noted to widespread acclaim.
Continuing, the same post noted. “These are the people making decisions about YOUR life.
No urgency. No shame. Just naps on taxpayer time. Please SHARE this—everyone needs to see the lunacy in Congress. This is a joke. And we’re the punchline.”
Similarly angered, another comment read, “🚨 UNREAL: Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell caught ASLEEP during a live committee hearing this morning. These are the people making decisions about YOUR life. No urgency. No shame. Just naps on taxpayer time.”
Continuing the stream of mockery, one conservative joked, “This is what the American public is paying for! 71-year-old Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan was seen dozing off during a hearing this morning.”
Annoyed with the lack os seriousness, the comments continued to mock her. “Democrat Rep. Debbie Dingell shows the best method to keep Democrats from saying stupid B.S. Schedule early hearings!!! She was caught sleeping during a committee hearing this morning,” a sardonic conservative wrote.
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Fed up with the entitled Democrat, another asked, “WHERE CAN I GET A JOB WHERE YOU ARE PAID TO SLEEP?😴 Is this Democrat literally sleeping on the job?! While Republicans are grinding through markups on the Big Beautiful Bill, Debbie Dingell is catching Z’s in the hearing room.”
Advocating for term limits, many critics wondered if she was simply too old for her seat. “TERM LIMITS! Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI) OUT COLD asleep while on the job. Do any of you get to sleep while at the office? These people have ZERO CARE for how Americans perceive Congress,” a conservative pointed out.
Reacting to the footage, another tweet pointed out, “This video legitimately infuriated me. The fact that this fat slob is paid by my tax dollars to participate in a critical hearing… and she chose to sleep, has me seeing red. What an absolute disgrace.”
In a desperate attempt to regain control of the narrative, Dingell whined, “Been up for 31 hours straight fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid. Closed my eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.”
Watch the clip here:
Shortly before she fell asleep, the Michigan Democrat whined about the GOP. “Chronic understaffing continues in nursing homes and the elderly and disabled Americans living in nursing homes have suffered as a result. In fact, people have died… Our long-term care system is broken,” she said.
Featured image from embedded video