President Joe Biden received a financial boost from staffers for influential left-wing climate activist groups that later pressured the U.S. government to pause new approvals for liquefied natural gas export terminals, records show.

In recent years, the Rockefellers and philanthropy of ex-Democratic New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg joined deep-pocketed nonprofit organizations in bankrolling a sprawling anti-LNG initiative that helped propel the Biden administration to halt LNG exports, a decision in January that policy experts and lawmakers warn could embolden foreign adversaries such as Russia. Top employees for roughly half a dozen entities behind this successful pressure campaign wired large sums to Biden in 2020, with thousands of dollars also coming in to support his 2024 reelection bid, according to documents on file with the Federal Election Commission.