# pause

URL: /business/nouns/agent/pause · Id: `verb:Agent.pause` · Call: `await $.Agent.pause({ … })` (SDK) or the `do` tool at `https://api.sb/mcp`. Inputs says what to pass, Outputs what returns, When it waits who approves.

> Pause stops one Agent, every Agent on a Team, or every customer-facing Agent from starting new Actions in a Startup.

Pause stops one [Agent](/business/nouns/agent), every Agent on a [Team](/business/nouns/team), or every customer-facing Agent from starting new [Actions](/business/nouns/action) in a [Startup](/business/nouns/startup).

## Inputs
| Input | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `agents` | list of [Agent](/business/nouns/agent) | No | The Agents to pause. Name one of `agents`, `team` or `customerFacing`. |
| `team` | [Team](/business/nouns/team) | No | Pause every Agent seated on this Team. |
| `customerFacing` | `boolean` | No | True pauses every Agent seated in a Role that answers a customer Channel. |
| `reason` | `text` | Yes | Why the Agents stop, shown to every watcher. |

## Outputs
| Output | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `agents` | list of [Agent](/business/nouns/agent) | Yes | Every Agent it paused; each emits its own `Agent.paused`. |

## Effects
- Emits [`Agent.paused`](/business/events/Agent.paused).
- Performed by the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder).
- Two-way: it runs at once, in the `try`, `send` and `do` modes.
- Holds every pending Action the Agent started; running Actions finish.
- Keeps new Tasks in each seat’s queue, and sends each customer who writes a holding reply from the Role address.
- Leaves Memory, Mandates and Limits untouched, so resume picks up where it stopped.

## Refuses when
| Check | Error | Fix | Then call |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The key is valid, but its scopes do not allow this operation. | [`forbidden`](/code/api/errors/forbidden) | Use a key whose scopes cover the operation, or ask an owner of the namespace to grant them. | [Agent.pause](/business/nouns/agent/pause) |

## When it waits
| Gate | Default |
| --- | --- |
| Decision class | Low: two-way, nothing at stake |
| [Delay window](/systems/trust-and-governance/controls/one-way-windows) | None: it runs once review passes. |
| Limit | The call [Limit](/business/nouns/limit) of the [Permission](/business/nouns/permission) it runs under. |
| Over the Limit | It waits `pending` for an [Approval](/business/nouns/approval) from the [Founder](/agents/founding/founder). Approved, it runs; refused, it ends `refused` with [`limit-exceeded`](/code/api/errors/limit-exceeded); unanswered by its deadline, it ends `canceled`. |

## Example

**Ask**

```text
Pause the latest agent.
```

**API**

```bash
curl -X POST https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/agents/pause \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $STARTUP_BUILDER_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"agents":["agent_1"],"reason":"Example reason"}'
```

```json
{
  "api": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com",
  "agents": [
    {
      "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/agents/agent_1",
      "$type": "Agent",
      "instructions": "Example instructions",
      "model": "Example model",
      "status": "standby"
    }
  ],
  "action": {
    "$id": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1",
    "operation": "Agent.pause",
    "status": "done"
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://api.sb/ledgerlark.com/actions/action_1"
  }
}
```

**SDK**

```ts
import { $ } from 'startup-builder'

const agents = await $.Agent.pause({ agents: ['agent_1'], reason: 'Example reason' })
```

**CLI**

```bash
npx startup-builder do Agent.pause --json '{"agents":["agent_1"],"reason":"Example reason"}'
```

**MCP**

```json
{
  "name": "do",
  "arguments": {
    "code": "return await $.Agent.pause({ agents: ['agent_1'], reason: 'Example reason' })"
  }
}
```

Guides that call it: [Pause every agent that talks to customers](/agents/pause-customer-facing-agents).