The Treasury Department said Thursday that Secretary Steven Mnuchin Steven Terner MnuchinLawmakers fear voter backlash over failure to reach COVID-19 relief deal United Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid House Democrats plan to unveil bill next week to avert shutdown MORE was not breaking with President Trump Donald John TrumpObama calls on Senate not to fill Ginsburg's vacancy until after election Planned Parenthood: 'The fate of our rights' depends on Ginsburg replacement Progressive group to spend M in ad campaign on Supreme Court vacancy MORE on guns during an exchange with Rep. John Lewis John LewisPelosi orders Capitol flags at half-staff to honor Ginsburg Kamala Harris: Black Americans have been 'disproportionately harmed' by Trump LWCF modernization: Restoring the promise MORE (D-Ga.) at a hearing earlier in the day.

“Secretary Mnuchin was directly addressing Congressman Lewis’ question about availability of funds in the budget to address the issue of gun violence," said Treasury spokesman Tony Sayegh. "He also reflected the feelings shared by all Americans that yesterday’s school shooting was a profound tragedy.”

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At the hearing, after Lewis asked Mnuchin about the budget and gun violence, Mnuchin said, "Personally I think the gun violence — It's a tragedy, what we've seen yesterday, and I urge Congress to look at these issues."

The comments garnered attention because Trump has touted gun owners' rights in the past and did not mention gun control legislation in his remarks Thursday about the shooting that occurred at a South Florida high school the day before.

In the exchange with Lewis, Mnuchin said he has "vast responsibilities as Treasury secretary but this is out of my lane of responsibility."

Lewis said that the government "must do better" to address gun violence.

"We have to save our children, our citizens, our teachers," the congressman said.

Mnuchin told Lewis, "I appreciate the severity and the tragedy and I will speak to the president and the other Cabinet members."

Seventeen people on Wednesday were killed in the Florida shooting.

Authorities later identified the suspected shooter as 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz.

This story was updated at 2:25 p.m. to reflect the Treasury Department's statement.