The kinetics and magnitude of cytokine gene expression are tightly regulated to elicit a balanced response to pathogens and result from integrated changes in transcription and mRNA stability. Yet, how a single microbial stimulus induces peak transcription of some genes (TNFα) within minutes whereas others (IP-10) require hours remains unclear. Here, we dissect activation of several lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible genes in macrophages, an essential cell type mediating inflammatory response in mammals. We show that a key difference between the genes is the step of the transcription cycle at which they are regulated. Specifically, at TNFα, RNA Polymerase II initiates transcription in resting macrophages, but stalls near the promoter until LPS triggers rapid and transient release of the negative elongation factor (NELF) complex and productive elongation. In contrast, no NELF or polymerase is detectible near the IP-10 promoter before induction, and LPS-dependent polymerase recruitment is rate limiting for transcription. We further demonstrate that this strategy is shared by other immune mediators and is independent of the inducer and signaling pathway responsible for gene activation. Finally, as a striking example of evolutionary conservation, the Drosophila homolog of the TNFα gene, eiger, displayed all of the hallmarks of NELF-dependent polymerase stalling. We propose that polymerase stalling ensures the coordinated, timely activation the inflammatory gene expression program from Drosophila to mammals.