Republicans are lashing out against President Joe Biden after he announced his administration would be pausing approvals of U.S. liquefied natural gas exports, arguing such a move would empower foreign countries such as Russia. 

Biden announced the pause on Friday, which will allow the administration to evaluate the effects on the climate and environment of exporting such a “sizable” amount of LNG. It will also allow the administration to consider the economic and national security effects of new LNG export facilities, allowing Biden to respond to political pressure to address the impacts of climate change.