On April 2^nd, 2024, Reuters reported White House officials being open to ending the pause on approvals of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports to obtain Republican support to get a Ukraine aid package as part of the $95 billion bipartisan national security agreement. The White House has labeled this development as ‘hypothetical,’ but if true, it inevitably casts doubt on the rationale behind the initial decision to pause. Regardless of the underlying motives and political maneuvers, it is important to evaluate the short-term and long-term market, commercial, and strategic ramifications for U.S. LNG. Despite the considerable attention paid to the political, market, and commercial ramifications of the pause, its actual immediate impact on U.S. LNG export outlook will be insignificant, particularly if the pause is lifted in 1H 2025. A longer term-pause (which we believe is unlikely), may have significant impact on domestic and global gas dynamics.