Arizona Congressman David Schweikert has admitted to an embarrassing lapse that could have derailed a key piece of President Trump's legislative agenda. The Republican representative fell asleep and missed a crucial vote on the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," a sweeping spending package that passed the House by a razor-thin margin of just one vote.
The eight-term congressman from Arizona's 1st Congressional District acknowledged his mistake during an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM's The Mike Broomhead Show on Friday. "It's embarrassing," the 63-year-old Schweikert said, explaining that he had been negotiating the legislation for "36 straight hours" before the incident occurred.
The Critical Moment
According to ABC 15 News, Schweikert had gone down the hall to change his shirt early Thursday when exhaustion overcame him. "Next thing I know, I'm holding a cup of coffee and my phone is ringing saying the vote is on. I'd fallen asleep," he told reporters. The chairman of the Joint Economic Committee raced back to the House floor but arrived too late, witnessing the Speaker's gavel fall as he walked through the chamber doors.
The timing couldn't have been worse. According to Newsweek, the bill passed 215-214, with two Republicans joining Democrats in opposition and two others, including Schweikert, missing the vote entirely. Another Republican, Representative Andrew Garbarino of New York, also missed the vote after dozing off in the back of the chamber, as reported by CBS New York.
About the Congressman
David Sheridan Schweikert represents northeastern Maricopa County, including portions of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Cave Creek. Born in Los Angeles but raised in Scottsdale, he has served in Congress since 2011, previously representing the state's 5th and 6th congressional districts before redistricting placed him in the 1st District. The Republican lawmaker is known for his frequent floor speeches about the national debt and fiscal responsibility, earning him a reputation as a "budget hawk."
Schweikert lives in Fountain Hills with his wife Joyce and their two adopted children. His district office is located at street_address:14500 N. Northsight Blvd, Suite #221, Scottsdale AZ 85260, while his Washington office operates from street_address2:166 Cannon House Office Building, Washington DC 20515.
Recent Electoral History
The congressman has faced increasingly competitive races in recent years. As reported by the Associated Press, Schweikert defeated Democratic challenger Dr. Amish Shah in November 2024, securing his eighth term. However, his reputation has been tarnished by ethics scandals, including a $125,000 fine from the Federal Election Commission in 2022 for misappropriating campaign funds and a $50,000 fine in 2020 for campaign finance violations.
Growing Trend of Exhausted Lawmakers
Schweikert's incident appears to be part of a disturbing pattern emerging on Capitol Hill. Just two weeks earlier, Newsweek reported that Utah Representative Blake Moore fell asleep during a Ways and Means Committee hearing and had to be awakened by a colleague to cast his vote. The meeting had lasted over 18 hours, beginning at 2:30 p.m. and continuing through the night until around 5 a.m.
Similarly, FOX 10 Phoenix documented that Representatives Jan Schakowsky of Illinois and Debbie Dingell of Michigan both dozed off during a marathon House Committee on Energy and Commerce meeting that lasted over 20 hours. Dingell later posted on social media that she had been "up for 31 hours straight fighting Republicans trying to gut Medicaid."
Historical Context
While lawmakers sleeping during proceedings is not unprecedented, the frequency of recent incidents has raised concerns about the demanding schedule imposed by leadership. NPR reported in 2015 that at least 40 members of Congress regularly sleep in their offices, with some citing the demanding schedule that keeps them in Washington only 83 nights per year during election years.
The Bill's Significance
The legislation Schweikert missed voting on represents a cornerstone of President Trump's domestic policy agenda. According to 12News, the bill extends the 2017 Trump-era tax cuts while including some of the largest Medicaid funding cuts in modern history. Healthcare advocates in Arizona have expressed concern about the potential impact on hundreds of thousands of low-income residents who rely on Medicaid.
Helena Whitney, a spokesperson for the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, told 12News that the bill could significantly impact healthcare access statewide. "At the beginning of this process, I was terrified about what was going to happen. Today, I'm saddened by what we have, and I'm worried for the people of Arizona."
Legislative Process Ahead
Despite passing the House, the bill faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Schweikert warned that the legislation still has "miles and miles to go" before becoming law, explaining that "the Senate's going to recraft it; they're going to send it back" for additional votes and potential conference committee negotiations.
Speaker's Response
House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared understanding of the circumstances surrounding both missed votes. According to KTAR, Johnson publicly acknowledged that Schweikert "had been one of the negotiators going almost 36 hours straight and they threw the gavel right at the very end of the clock." The Speaker jokingly told reporters about Garbarino: "I'm going to just strangle him, but then, he's my dear friend."
Johnson later clarified to the press that while the official vote tally showed 215-214, it was "really 217" when accounting for both Schweikert and Garbarino's intended votes in favor of the legislation.
