The U.S. Department of Energy said as of January 26, 2024 that the pause applied to pending LNG applications and did not revoke existing export authorizations.

The January 26, 2024 pause covered pending LNG export decisions to non-free-trade-agreement countries; the announcement did not withdraw export authorizations that had already been issued.

U.S. Department of Energy Reverses Biden LNG Pause, Restores Trump Energy Dominance Agenda | Department of Energy
Source: energy.gov

U.S. Department of Energy Reverses Biden LNG Pause, Restores Trump Energy Dominance Agenda | Department of Energy
Source: energy.gov

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified August 31, 2026

The White House fact sheet dated January 26, 2024 described a temporary pause on pending decisions for LNG exports to non-free-trade-agreement countries.
Reuters reported the pause as affecting pending and future permits while DOE conducted a new review.
The sources describe a hold on decisions and authorizations under review, not cancellation or revocation of permits that had already been granted.

The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

On January 26, 2024, the Biden-Harris administration announced a temporary pause on pending decisions involving LNG exports to countries without a U.S. Free-trade agreement. The stated purpose was to allow the Department of Energy to update its analyses of the economic, environmental and public-interest effects of those proposed exports.

That supports the claim’s description of the pause as applying to unresolved applications or approvals.bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov reuters.com +1 more