'What A Joke': US Lawmakers Trolled For Taking A Nap During Marathon Hearing | Watch

Last Updated:May 14, 2025, 22:10 IST

Democratic Reps Debbie Dingell and Jan Schakowsky, as well as with Republican lawmaker Blake Moore, were seen dozing off during a key Congressional hearing.

US House lawmakers Debbie Dingell and Blake Moore falling asleep during a Congressional hearing. (Photo: X)

Three US lawmakers are facing a barrage of criticism online for dozing off during a Congressional hearing at Capitol Hill, as videos of their ‘nap’ have gone viral.

Videos on social media showed Democratic House Representatives Debbie Dingell, 71, from Michigan and Jan Schakowsky, 80, from Illinois, taking a nap during a meeting at the US Congress on Wednesday morning.

Another clip showed Republican Rep. Blake Moore from Utah dozing off in his seat before being gently nudged by another lawmaker after he could not respond to a question, as surrounding Congressmen laughed.

This happened during a marathon hearing as lawmakers debated US President Donald Trump’s MAGA Bill, which includes massive tax cuts, amid Republican infighting, according to Daily Mail. Lawmakers in the US House of Representatives debated the “big, beautiful Bill" well past midnight.

Dingell became the centre of attention on social media after she was spotted slumped in her seat, completely unconscious, with three bottles of drinks around her. The snooze-fest prompted a torrent of criticism online.

“Asleep at the wheel – literally. These are the people running the country. What a joke," a user said on X. “These people have ZERO CARE for how Americans perceive Congress," said another individual.

“These are the people making decisions about YOUR life. No urgency. No shame. Just naps on taxpayer time," wrote another user. A user said, “It must be exhausting to work two days a month."

“Doesn’t matter her party or gender – this is embarrassing and she needs to apologise," said another netizen on Dingell’s video. However, others defended the lawmakers, saying they had been up all night debating Trump’s proposed bill, which includes tax cuts as high as $5 trillion, along with reductions in Medicaid health care and green energy strategies.

Responding to backlash online, Dingell wrote, “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."

The bill was the biggest political and legislative debate for the Republicans leading Congress since Trump’s first term, setting up a career-defining clash over the nation’s priorities, all coming at a time of economic unease with Trump’s trade war and other uncertainties.

The Republicans are proposing cuts of nearly $800 billion over the decade to the Medicaid health care program, which is used by 70 million Americans; $290 billion to food aid in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP; and others. Democrats oppose these provisions, calling it a “GOP tax scam".

(with AP inputs)

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world 'What A Joke': US Lawmakers Trolled For Taking A Nap During Marathon Hearing | Watch