While Republicans are working around the clock to rein in reckless spending, it seems at least one House Democrat is struggling just to stay awake. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) sparked a wave of ridicule this week after appearing to fall asleep during a crucial budget hearing — and conservatives weren’t about to let it slide.

During the May 14 House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, Rep. Dingell was filmed slouched in her chair, eyes closed, seemingly asleep as debate raged over funding for key programs. The moment, captured on video and widely circulated on social media, quickly became the butt of conservative jokes.

Leading the charge was user Bernard Conway, who wrote on X, “It’s called a hangover, thus the 4 water bottles,” referencing the suspicious cluster of water bottles on Dingell’s desk. Others took aim at her home state’s lenient marijuana policies. “Must be smoking that good Michigan weed,” one user joked. Another sarcastically asked, “Was she snoring in the mic?”

Rather than owning the embarrassing moment, Dingell doubled down on social media, claiming she had been up for 31 hours straight “fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid.” She added that she had simply “closed my eyes to think about an America where everyone has access to quality, affordable health care.”

Conservative commentator Matt Van Swol quickly clapped back: “HOT TAKE: Don’t stay up all night if you can’t do your job the next morning.”

Other users piled on, calling out Dingell’s record. “Can we start with an America who protects women?” wrote Anna Hoffman. “You voted NO on the Laken Riley Violence Against Women Act AND yes to include men in women’s bathrooms.” Another user added bluntly, “Deb, you really think we believe that crap??? Step down for the sake of your constituents!”

To make matters worse, Dingell’s office tried to spin the optics, casting her as some kind of martyr for staying up all night to oppose President Trump’s budget. A spokesperson told the *Daily Mail* she had been up for 27 hours “fighting Republicans’ efforts to gut Medicaid.”

Even if that’s true, many Americans expect their representatives to show up ready to work — not doze off during critical debates about the country’s financial future. Republicans are fighting to restore fiscal sanity and cut the fat from massive entitlement programs, not “gut Medicaid” as Democrats like to fearmonger.

Dingell wasn’t alone in her sleepy display — Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) were also spotted nodding off at various points during the long hearing. Moore acknowledged the moment with humility, saying he “may have needed a quick power nap.”

But the real story here isn’t about fatigue — it’s about accountability. Voters deserve representatives who don’t just show up, but stay engaged. If Dingell can’t keep her eyes open during a debate on how to spend billions of taxpayer dollars, maybe it’s time she closed them for good — and stepped aside.