The move to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline is a blow to the Midwest, and reminder that in a Joe Biden Administration, they are alone.

The move – revoking the permits for the pipeline, which moves oil from the tar sands in Canada to the refineries in Texas – is a threat to not just energy jobs (and in many ways energy independence,) but to growth opportunities in the Midwest, and America at large.

What should be noted is the total lack of caring from President Biden, and his soon to be Transportation Secretary, former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg. When pressed by Sen. Ted Cruz during his confirmation hearing on the new Administration’s pipeline shutdown, and the elimination of 11,000 jobs, Buttiegieg responded, basically, “It’s cool by me.”

I think the most important thing is to make sure that we make good on the promise of the president’s climate vision as being on that, on net, creates far more jobs. Millions, we hope. I know that won’t just happen. We’ll have to do a lot of work to make sure that’s real. But getting this right means ensuring there’s more good paying union jobs for all Americans. Delivered from that infrastructure vision.

When Sen. Cruz asked Buttigieg whether others would be getting the displaced jobs, Buttigieg answered:

The answer is that we are very eager to see those workers continue to be employed in good-paying union jobs. Even if they might be different ones.