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A clown or a hero? Fired federal worker talks about confrontation with Indiana senator

By Sophie Kaelble

Posted April 3, 2025

Banks reiterated his position that Mack Schroeder (left), a former Health and Human Services budget analyst, is a “left-wing activist.” (FILE PHOTO ILLUSTRATION) (Zoom (Left); FILE PHOTO: IPB News (Right))

The man whose recent confrontation with Indiana senator Jim Banks went viral said he’s still waiting for an answer about what will happen to seniors and people with disabilities who depend on funds being cut by the federal government.

Banks, meanwhile, reiterated his position that Mack Schroeder, a former Health and Human Services budget analyst, is a “left-wing activist.”

Schroeder, who worked on programs such as Meals on Wheels, was among thousands of federal employees fired Feb. 14.

In an exchange as Banks was getting into an elevator at the U.S. Capitol building, the senator told Schroeder he “probably deserved” being fired because “you seem like a clown.”

Schroeder has been going to the U.S. Capitol building to ask senators how they’ll help their constituents who use these programs, which led to the encounter with Banks.

Hard truth! https://t.co/AGMASadq5b
— Senator Jim Banks (@SenatorBanks) April 1, 2025

“There are many people who are not getting social service programs, especially people with disabilities,” he said to Banks. “Are you going to do anything to stop what’s happening?”

Schroeder said he’s less concerned about his job than about seniors and people with disabilities losing services his job supported.

In a statement, Banks said, “I have no sympathy for left-wing activists who have been let go from overpaid positions that should never have existed. I do have sympathy for the hardworking Hoosiers whose tax dollars have been wasted on bankrolling these positions.”

Schroeder said Banks didn’t answer the question about supporting Hoosiers who use these programs.

“If there's no one making sure these programs are receiving the funding that they're allocated," he said, "what is he going to do when people are not getting nutritional meals?" He also expressed concern about funding “when people with disabilities aren't able to go into independent living facilities.”

Recent census data shows nearly 15 percent of Hoosiers have a disability and about 17 percent are older than 65.

Schroeder said Banks’s attitude “really doesn't send a message that he cares about those constituents. If he does, I would like him to direct his response to what he's going to do to provide those programs once again.”