Senator Jim Banks of Indiana was confronted by a former Health and Human Services employee, Mack Schroeder, who was among the up to 10,000 employees to be fired or laid off. In a video shared with News 8, Schroeder asked Banks what he was going to do to stop the layoffs, to which Banks responded that Schroeder “probably deserved it” and called him a “clown” as the elevator doors closed. Banks later defended his actions, stating that he supports President Trump’s mission to cut government waste.
The Associated Press reported that employees at the Health and Human Services Department were receiving dismissal notices. It is important to note that the courts have not ruled on the firings.
Schroeder expressed surprise at Banks’ response, calling it childish and finding it off-putting. Banks, however, stood by his comments, stating that he is in Washington to decrease the size and scope of the federal government and supports efforts to eliminate waste.
This incident highlights the tension between laid-off government employees and politicians advocating for cuts in government spending. News 8 reached out to Banks’ team for comment, but has not received a response. The story was updated to include an interview with Schroeder, with contributions from News 8 reporters Kyla Russell and Gregg Montgomery.
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