diff --git a/src/multi_agent_conductor.py b/src/multi_agent_conductor.py
index a048a72..2c6dc66 100644
--- a/src/multi_agent_conductor.py
+++ b/src/multi_agent_conductor.py
@@ -90,6 +90,7 @@ class ConductorEngine:
   self._workers_lock = threading.Lock()
   self._active_workers: dict[str, threading.Thread] = {}
   self._abort_events: dict[str, threading.Event] = {}
+  self._pause_event: threading.Event = threading.Event()
   self._tier_usage_lock = threading.Lock()
 
  def update_usage(self, tier: str, input_tokens: int, output_tokens: int) -> None:
@@ -98,6 +99,14 @@ class ConductorEngine:
     self.tier_usage[tier]["input"] += input_tokens
     self.tier_usage[tier]["output"] += output_tokens
 
+ def pause(self) -> None:
+  """Pauses the pipeline execution."""
+  self._pause_event.set()
+
+ def resume(self) -> None:
+  """Resumes the pipeline execution."""
+  self._pause_event.clear()
+
  def kill_worker(self, ticket_id: str) -> None:
   """Sets the abort event for a worker and attempts to join its thread."""
   if ticket_id in self._abort_events:
@@ -164,11 +173,14 @@ class ConductorEngine:
             md_content: The full markdown context (history + files) for AI workers.
             max_ticks: Optional limit on number of iterations (for testing).
         """
-  self._push_state(status="running", active_tier="Tier 2 (Tech Lead)")
-  
   import sys
   tick_count = 0
   while True:
+   if self._pause_event.is_set():
+    self._push_state(status="paused", active_tier="Paused")
+    time.sleep(0.5)
+    continue
+   self._push_state(status="running", active_tier="Tier 2 (Tech Lead)")
    if max_ticks is not None and tick_count >= max_ticks:
     break
    tick_count += 1
diff --git a/tests/test_pipeline_pause.py b/tests/test_pipeline_pause.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b454000
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_pipeline_pause.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import pytest
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock, patch
+from src.models import Ticket, Track
+from src.multi_agent_conductor import ConductorEngine
+
+def test_conductor_engine_has_pause_event():
+ track = Track(id="test", description="Test", tickets=[])
+ engine = ConductorEngine(track)
+ assert hasattr(engine, '_pause_event'), "ConductorEngine must have _pause_event"
+ assert engine._pause_event.is_set() == False, "Pause event should start unset (not paused)"
+
+def test_pause_method():
+ track = Track(id="test", description="Test", tickets=[])
+ engine = ConductorEngine(track)
+ engine.pause()
+ assert engine._pause_event.is_set() == True, "Pause should set the event"
+
+def test_resume_method():
+ track = Track(id="test", description="Test", tickets=[])
+ engine = ConductorEngine(track)
+ engine.pause()
+ assert engine._pause_event.is_set() == True
+ engine.resume()
+ assert engine._pause_event.is_set() == False, "Resume should clear the event"