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. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) blasted the decision shortly after it was announced, making him one of the highest-ranking Republicans to oppose it. 

“This announcement by President Biden is as outrageous as it is subversive. Stalling LNG export terminals, like Calcasieu Pass 2 in Louisiana, not only prevents America’s economic growth, it empowers our adversaries like Vladimir Putin,” Johnson said in a statement. “Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began, American petroleum producers have increased LNG shipments to our partners in Europe to prevent a catastrophic, continent-wide energy crisis and to provide an alternative to Russian energy exports.”

Johnson further criticized Biden for submitting multiple funding requests to send military aid to Ukraine as it fends off an invasion from Russia “while knowingly forcing allies to rely on Russian energy, giving Putin an advantage.”

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) also criticized the pause as an “attack on American energy,” arguing such a move could endanger some European allies that rely on U.S. energy. 

“This is an outrageous attack on American energy in the latest example of the White House caving to radical extremists without giving a single thought to the impact on our energy and national security,” Scalise said in a statement. “Not only does this decision jeopardize American economic growth, American jobs, and American energy security, but it risks cutting off energy supplies to our allies in Europe when they need it the most.” 

Louisiana is already feeling the effects of the Biden administration’s efforts to rein in LNG export projects after it delayed approval of the state’s planned CP2 export terminal earlier this week. If built, it would become the country’s largest LNG export terminal. 

The latest decision to pause all approvals is likely to affect export business in southern states such as Texas. 

“American resources keep the United States and our allies safe, and the president’s decision to undercut this geopolitical tool will have significant national security, economic, and environmental consequences,” Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX) and Kevin Hern (R-OK) said in a statement.

“While President Biden may think this move will appease the climate lobby, it appeases nefarious actors tenfold at the cost of global consumers,” they added. “President Biden is not serious about global security, reducing energy poverty, and helping our allies. At a time of global instability, America should be leading — not retreating.”

Although Biden made the decision to adhere to promises he made while on the campaign trail in 2020, the move to pause LNG exports already appears to be weaponized by his political opponents heading into the next election.

Former President Donald Trump’s campaign came out against the decision, accusing Biden of caving “to the radical demands of the environmental extremists.”

“This decision to block the approval of new facilities to export American natural gas is one more disastrous self-inflicted wound that will further undermine America’s economic and national security,” Karoline Leavitt, press secretary for Trump’s campaigns, said in a statement. “On day one, President Trump will unleash American Energy to lower the cost of living for all Americans, pay down debt, strengthen national security, and establish the United States as the manufacturing superpower of the world.” 

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The timeline for the LNG export pause is not clear, although the Biden administration said it could take “some months” to update before being published for public comment. That could have global implications as the U.S. has risen to become the world’s No. 1 exporter of LNG, with its capacity projected to double by the end of the decade. 

The U.S. has become a key supplier of LNG to allies in Asia and the European Union, especially after the Russian military invaded Ukraine in February 2022.