US Senator's Confrontational Comment to Fired Employee: 'I Won't Apologize'

A U.S. senator from Indiana, Jim Banks, had a confrontational encounter with a former Health and Human Services employee who was among those fired or laid off.

The employee, Mack Schroeder, shared a video of the encounter with News 8 after it became widely available. In the video, Schroeder asked Sen. Banks, "Hi, I was a worker at HHS. I was fired illegally on Feb. 14. There are many people who are not getting social service programs, especially people with disabilities. Are you going to do anything to stop what's happening?"

Banks responded from the elevator, saying, "You probably deserved it."

Schroeder responded, "I deserved it?"

As the elevator doors closed, Banks said, "You seem like a clown."

Schroeder told News 8 that he was alarmed and found the senator's answer off-putting. "I was just a bit taken aback. I don't know him personally. I don't know about his work as a senator. I feel like I didn't approach him in an antagonistic way in any way. I was just asking him what he was going to do to support constituents in his state."

Schroeder added, "It felt like a very childish attack, and it was a bit surprising because he didn't have a response to what I was saying."

Banks later posted a video saying, "I won't apologize for speaking the truth. I 100% support President Trump and DOGE's mission to cut woke spending and government waste."

The Associated Press reported Tuesday that employees across the massive U.S. Health and Human Services Department began receiving notices of dismissal.

Schroeder said, "It felt like a very childish attack, and it was a bit surprising because he didn't have a response to what I was saying."

“I went to Washington to decrease the size and scope of the federal government. No one is entitled to a taxpayer-funded job, especially in positions that waste those funds. I fully support President Trump and DOGE’s mission to eliminate waste.”