Mnuchin defends White House reopening efforts

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin defended the Trump administration's efforts to successfully open the economy while also ensuring that Americans are protected in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking via videoconference, the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking Housing, and Urban Affairs, asked Secretary Mnuchin, "How many workers should give their lives to increase the GDP or the Dow Jones by 1000 points?"

Mnuchin said the senator's question was unfair. He also cautioned that if the country remained shutdown indefinitely, "there is the risk of permanent damage" to the economy.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is also speaking to the committee about the economic impact of the pandemic.