Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) slammed President Joe Biden's administration on Thursday for easing sanctions against Venezuela and turning the United States to the country for energy production.

Manchin, the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said he was concerned about the administration's decision to use Venezuela for energy production when the U.S. is capable of energy production itself.

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“I also want to briefly express at the outset my strong concerns about the news last night that this administration has lifted most sanctions on Venezuelan oil for the next six months," Manchin said. "On the heels of announcing the smallest five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan in decades, this administration is turning to Venezuela — they know I have a problem, and I’m sure many of you will have feelings on this — one of the world’s dirtiest energy producers and an oppressor of its own people, to help make up the production that they refuse to allow in America."

Manchin said he understands the administration is hoping that lifting the sanctions will help Venezuela make meaningful democratic reform, but he is concerned because the U.S. has failed to convince the country to make changes before.

"It makes no sense at all to reward bad actors before they actually take the action you want. We tried that with Iran, and now here we are with Venezuela,” he said.

Manchin has clashed with the administration in the past over energy-related matters, including the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act, which he helped create. The West Virginia senator has stood by the climate-oriented legislation but accused the Biden administration of trying to manipulate it.

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The comments come after the Department of the Treasury announced it softened sanctions on oil, gas, and gold, "as well as removing the ban on secondary trading," on Wednesday. The department said it is "prepared to amend or revoke authorizations at any time, should representatives of [Venezuelan President Nicolas] Maduro fail to follow through on their commitments."

Maduro and his opposition have reached an agreement on guidelines before the country's next presidential election that the U.S. considers "democratic developments."