Secretary Doug Burgum, the 55th U.S. Secretary of the Interior and chairman of the National Energy Dominance Council, stated in a social media post that the Biden administration had placed a “ban” on liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities a year earlier. He also said the United States is currently the world’s largest LNG exporter.
Burgum’s mention of a “ban” refers to a policy introduced by the Biden administration in January 2024. At that time, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) temporarily paused approvals for new LNG export permits to countries without free trade agreements. The pause was intended to allow a review of environmental, economic, and national security considerations. The White House and DOE emphasized that the move was a temporary measure rather than a permanent restriction. LNG shipments from existing export terminals continued without interruption, and projects that had already received approval remained operational.
While several lawmakers and industry representatives criticized the decision and described it as a “ban,” regulatory assessments clarified that the pause applied only to new export authorizations. It did not limit exports from facilities already in operation.
Burgum’s second statement — that the United States is the world’s largest LNG exporter — is accurate but benefits from additional context. The United States became the leading LNG exporter in 2023, following the expansion and full-capacity operation of multiple export terminals approved in earlier years. Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) indicates that the country maintained this top ranking through 2024, surpassing Australia and Qatar in total export volume.
In 2022, the United States briefly led global LNG exports during the first half of the year. However, full-year data showed Australia slightly ahead, with the United States and Qatar close behind. LNG demand surged, particularly from Europe, after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which significantly increased U.S. export volumes through both long-term contracts and spot-market sales.
The DOE’s 2024 pause on new LNG permits did not alter the United States’ global position. Exports from existing terminals continued, allowing the country to retain its status as the world’s largest LNG exporter throughout 2023 and 2024.
Overall, Burgum’s post underscores the expansion of U.S. LNG exports while criticizing the permit pause. However, fact-checking indicates that describing the policy as a “ban” is misleading, and that the United States had already secured its position as the leading LNG exporter during the Biden administration, prior to the temporary review process.
