Banks Defends Job Cuts
WATCH: Banks Defends Job Cuts, Calls Fired Worker a ‘Clown’
WASHINGTON — A viral video circulating online shows Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) telling a former federal employee that he “probably deserved” to be fired, adding, “because you seem like a clown.”
The video, viewed over a million times, captures Banks in a Senate corridor before stepping into an elevator. The person recording, Mack Schroeder, identified himself as a former budget analyst at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), claiming he was fired “illegally” on Feb. 14 as part of a broader reduction in federal jobs.
“Hi, I was a worker at HHS and I was fired illegally. There are many people who are not getting social service programs, especially people with disabilities,” Schroeder says in the video before asking Banks what he plans to do about it.
Banks responds, “Uh, you probably deserved it.”
Schroeder presses him: “I deserved it?”
“You probably deserved it,” Banks repeats.
As the elevator doors close, Banks adds, “Because you seem like a clown.”
The exchange has drawn mixed reactions online. Some praised Banks’ bluntness, while others criticized the remarks as dismissive of public service workers. Banks later acknowledged the video and doubled down on his stance, posting on social media that it was a “hard truth.”
In a statement, Banks defended the job cuts and his response in the video:
“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.”
Schroeder, who said he worked on legislation for the Administration for Community Living, expressed disappointment over Banks’ remarks. He and other former federal employees have been meeting with lawmakers in an effort to reinstate jobs cut under the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an initiative led by Elon Musk aimed at reducing federal spending.
The layoffs have affected thousands of employees across multiple agencies, including HHS, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Defense Department, and the Social Security Administration. It remains unclear whether legal challenges will arise from the dismissals.
