The Energy Department did suspend decisions on pending and future LNG export applications on January 26, 2024, without withdrawing approvals already granted. However, the claim leaves out that the measure covered exports to countries lacking a U.S. Free-trade agreement.
Mostly True
On January 26, 2024, the Energy Department paused pending LNG export authorization decisions without revoking existing export approvals.
Executive Orders and U.S. LNG Exports: Frequently Asked Questions | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
Source: congress.gov
At a glance
Verified August 31, 2026Key Evidence
A January 26, 2024 Reuters report said the administration had suspended approval decisions for pending and future LNG export permits involving countries without a free-trade agreement.
The source descriptions portray the measure as a delay or freeze in the approval process, not as a withdrawal of export permissions already issued.
The claim fails to identify the significant jurisdictional limit: the suspension concerned exports to countries without a free-trade agreement, not every LNG export authorization.
The reporting
What the Evidence Shows
On January 26, 2024, the Biden administration announced a temporary suspension of Energy Department decisions on pending and future applications to export liquefied natural gas to countries without a free-trade agreement with the United States. The measure was designed to permit a fresh assessment of the projects’ climate implications and broader public-interest considerations. Reuters reported that the action covered permits still under consideration as well as future applications, while subsequent legal and congressional reviews similarly described it as a delay in decision-making, not a withdrawal of authorizations previously granted.reuters.comreuters.comVIEW Reaction to the US decision to pause LNG export reviews
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