Ladies and gentlemen. Your elected leaders are asleep at the wheel… literally!
The latest footage of aging lawmakers not doing their job has angered countless voters and set off a firestorm of demands across social media to renew calls for much-needed term limits for elected officials well past their prime.
On Wednesday, elderly Democratic Representatives Debbie Dingell from Michigan and Jan Schakowsky were caught what appeared to be sleeping during a committee hearing regarding President Trump’s spending bill, specifically measures around Medicaid.
Dingell, 71, and Schakowsky, 80, are two of the oldest members of Congress.
In addition to both Dingell and Schakowsky dozing off on the job, Utah Rep. Blake Moore, 55, also fell asleep later on and had to be woken up after he didn’t answer a question posed to him.
This all sounds like a practical joke. But it was all caught on camera.
Utah Rep. Blake Moore has to be woken up after falling asleep in his chair during a committee meeting.
Michigan Rep. Debbie Dingell and Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky were also caught on film falling asleep this morning. pic.twitter.com/ayHFMDcXLH
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 14, 2025
The stunning footage led to outrage across social media. Outrage that was well-deserved.
“Up all night PARTYING? is that what Congress really does?” one angry X user asked.
“They just can’t help but to prove how worthless they are on a daily basis,” another X user wrote while another astutely reminded them that if they were in the private sector and fell asleep during their boss’s meeting, they probably wouldn’t have a desk to return to.
Another ticked-off voter tweeted each individual Congressperson separately and wrote, “What a worldwide embarrassment Each one of you – Blake, Debbie and Jan. You’re a disaster. Lazy, incompetent, and selfish. You are worthless politicians.”
And instead of owning their actions, they predictably deflected and twisted it into a game of political theater.
Dingell posted on X that she “Closed her eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.”
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. https://t.co/gj8gttmX1X
— Rep. Debbie Dingell (@RepDebDingell) May 14, 2025
Yeah, right!
Sadly, this is an on-going problem that doesn’t seem to be going away unless term limits are seriously brought to the table.
Earlier this year, former Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell left the Capitol in a wheelchair, and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi showed up the House floor using a walker after both suffered falls.
Mitch McConnell in a wheelchair.
Nancy Pelosi with a walker.
This is just sad.
Term limits are needed for the health and wellbeing of elected officials. pic.twitter.com/2V1lrp6WeW
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 6, 2025
These pictures — and video — don’t lie, folks.