Top Biden official suggests there are too many jobs while defending climate agenda in tense exchange

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Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, Sen Josh Hawley get into tense exchange over jobs

Haaland suggested there was already too many jobs when confronted by Hawley, R-Mo., Tuesday about her decision to shut down a northern Minnesota mine projected to create thousands of jobs. (Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee)

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland defended her decision to shut down a Minnesota critical mineral mine, saying that there were already a lot of jobs available for Americans.

Haaland's remarks came in response to a question about her decision this year to ban mining across 225,504 acres near Duluth, Minnesota, from Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing Tuesday afternoon. Hawley criticized the decision, highlighting the expected positive economic impacts of the project, which its developer said would create more than 1,000 jobs.

"Your decision to trade off our energy security in favor of a radical climate change agenda is making us more and more dependent on China. And, at the same time, you are blocking permits for mines in this country," Hawley said.

"The jobs for blue-collar workers in this nation are valuable resources. The livelihood and well-being of American families are valuable resources," the senator continued. "The ability of America to have our own industry and not be dependent on China is a valuable resource. Why should those things for millions of Americans be sacrificed in favor of your agenda for radical climate change?"

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said there are currently "a lot of jobs" for Americans. (AP Photo / David Zalubowski / File)

Haaland then responded, noting the high number of job openings nationwide.

"Senator, I know that there's like 1.9 jobs for every American in the country right now. So, I know there's a lot of jobs," Haaland told Hawley.

"Wait a minute. … You're telling me we've got too many jobs in the country?" Hawley asked.

"Well, I'm saying that we don't have enough people," the interior secretary responded. "That's why we are having a hard time finding folks to work at our department."

According to the latest data released Tuesday by the Department of Labor, the U.S. has roughly 9.6 million job openings. The figure translates to about 0.6 unemployed persons per job opening, the data showed. 

Hawley heavily criticized Haaland's comments, saying entire Midwestern communities like those he represents in Missouri have been decimated as a result of decisions that exported jobs overseas. He said more than 3 million such jobs have been exported to China over the years.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said Haaland's jobs argument might be "the most unbelievable statement I have heard from a member of this administration." (Bill Clark / CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images)

"They are blue-collar workers. And you're sitting here and telling me that we have too many jobs in this country. Are you serious?" he continued.

"I want to take the strongest possible exception to that comment and that entire mentality which I think is very honest. I think it reflects the mentality of your administration, which is, when it comes to blue-collar workers in this country, 'You're on your own. Good luck.'"

Hawley added that Haaland's remark might be "the most unbelievable statement I have heard from a member of this administration."

Haaland, though, later said that the Interior Department under her leadership has created jobs through a program to cap abandoned oil and gas wells.

"These are communities that rely on this government to find a way forward for them," she said. "There is, unfortunately, a dearth of legacy pollution in this country. Those are jobs, good-paying, well-paying jobs with benefits that Americans are having because of President Biden and his policies."

"We're proud to move those issues and those programs forward for the American people."

A lake within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness is seen on Sept. 4, 2019, in Ely, Minnesota. (Salwan Georges / Washington Post via Getty Images)

In January, Haaland announced the 20-year withdrawal of lands in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and surrounding area in Minnesota for mineral leasing, citing environmental concerns. The decision came about a year after she canceled two leases held by the firm Twin Metals Minnesota, which had both been located in the Superior National Forest outside the wilderness area.

The Twin Metals mining project contained about 88% of the nation's cobalt reserves in addition to vast copper, nickel and platinum-group elements. Such critical minerals are vital for various green energy technologies like electric vehicle batteries, battery storage facilities, solar panels and wind turbines, which the Biden administration has aggressively pushed.

And a project labor agreement Twin Metals signed with the Iron Range Building and Construction Trades Council for the mine promised 750 direct full-time jobs and 1,500 spinoff jobs.

Fox News Digital Production Assistant Emily Robertson contributed to this report.