# workflow_pause

Pause a running workflow Use when native TodoWrite + sequential Bash is wrong because the work has a real dependency graph that needs persistence, retry policy, pause/resume, and step-output binding across LLM-driven steps. For a single linear todo list, native TodoWrite is fine.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `workflow_pause`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-pause

## Facts

- Tool: `workflow_pause`
- Server: Claude Flow (`claude-flow`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow.md
- Install: `npx -y claude-flow`
- Homepage: https://github.com/ruvnet/claude-flow
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "workflow_pause",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why workflow_pause is rated High

Pausing a running workflow is an external operation that changes the state of an actively executing process. It is reversible (workflows can be resumed), so it doesn't qualify as Destructive, but it does trigger a real side effect on an external orchestration system, placing it in the Execute category. Misuse could halt critical enterprise workflows, warranting medium severity.

From the tool's own definition: "'Pause a running workflow' — triggers an external operational state change on a live workflow execution"

## Use case

AI agents invoke workflow_pause to trigger actions in Claude Flow. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Claude Flow:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "workflow_pause": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "workflow_pause_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Claude Flow (495)

- `agent_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-terminate.md
- `agentdb_batch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-batch.md
- `agentdb_causal-edge-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-causal-edge-delete.md
- `agentdb_causal-node-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-causal-node-delete.md
- `agentdb_hierarchical-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agentdb-hierarchical-delete.md
- `agenticow_rollback` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agenticow-rollback.md
- `autopilot_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/autopilot-reset.md
- `config_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/config-reset.md
- `federation_wg_keyrotate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/federation-wg-keyrotate.md
- `hooks_codemod` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-codemod.md
- `hooks_intelligence-reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-intelligence-reset.md
- `hooks_worker-cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/hooks-worker-cancel.md
- `iot_device_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-device-remove.md
- `iot_firmware_rollout_rollback` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-firmware-rollout-rollback.md
- `iot_fleet_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-fleet-delete.md
- `iot_fleet_remove_device` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/iot-fleet-remove-device.md
- `managed_agent_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/managed-agent-terminate.md
- `memory_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/memory-delete.md
- `policy_revoke` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/policy-revoke.md
- `ruvector_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/ruvector-delete.md
- `session_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/session-delete.md
- `system_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/system-reset.md
- `task_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/task-cancel.md
- `teammate_cleanup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/teammate-cleanup.md
- `wasm_agent_reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/wasm-agent-reset.md
- `wasm_gallery_remove_custom` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/wasm-gallery-remove-custom.md
- `workflow_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-cancel.md
- `workflow_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/workflow-delete.md
- `agent_pool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-pool.md
- `agent_spawn` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow/agent-spawn.md
- …and 465 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-ruvnet-claude-flow