The Energy Department said it would pause approvals for liquefied natural gas (LNG) export approvals on Friday, drawing applause from Democrats and environmental activists but criticism from Republicans and industry groups. 

The Details: The pause would impact pending decisions on exports to countries with which the U.S. does not have a free trade agreement, a White House fact sheet said. During the pause, the administration will review the impacts of LNG exports on energy costs, America's energy security, and the environment. The decision came after pressure from environmentalists, congressional Democrats, and communities near the proposed export terminals, who feared LNG exports could stimulate a significant increase in emissions contributing to climate change.

For Context: The move is a departure from previous presidents, including President Barack Obama, who pursued an aggressive natural gas exports policy. At that time, it was believed that natural gas could serve as a "bridge fuel" transitioning the U.S. power system from coal to renewables. 

How the Media Covered It: Several outlets published analyses of the pause’s broader implications on Monday; some opinions published by left-rated outlets praised the decision, and some from the right opposed it. Both Axios (Lean Left bias) and the Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) noted “risks” or “uncertainty” fueled by the pause, impacting both politics and business. Axios noted that the pause would not stop an expected boom in natural gas exports, thanks to projects currently under construction. 

This summary was developed with the help of AllSides' AI technology.