Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin testified Tuesday before the Senate Banking Committee and warned the U.S. economy could face permanent damage if businesses don’t begin to reopen soon. During the hearing, Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown questioned Mnuchin about putting the lives of workers at risk.

Sen. Sherrod Brown: “How many workers will die if we send people back to work without the protections they need? How many workers should give their lives to increase the GDP or  Dow Jones by a thousand points?”

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin: “No workers should give their lives to do that, Mr. Senator. And I think your characterization is unfair.”