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Congress·In Committee·about 1 year ago

Congressional Republicans propose ending U.S. membership and funding for the United Nations and WHO

Also known as: DEFUND Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Negative Impacts(1)
Federal Employee
Hurts
Mixed Impacts(8)
Chronic Illness
Neutral
Aca Marketplace
Neutral
Military Active
Neutral
Child Tax Credit
Neutral
Immigrant
Neutral
Visa Holder
Neutral
Green Card
Neutral
Renter
Neutral

Key Points

  • Ends U.S. membership in the United Nations and its related bodies, and tells the President to carry out the withdrawal.
  • Closes the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and says any leftover work from that office must stop.
  • Stops U.S. payments to the United Nations and related agencies, except limited spending to help shut down operations and bring people and equipment home.
  • Bars the U.S. from joining United Nations peacekeeping operations.
  • Ends U.S. participation in the World Health Organization and other U.N.-linked agreements, and makes it harder to rejoin without Senate approval.
Foreign PolicyNational SecurityHealthcareTrade

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Feb 21, 2025House

Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Feb 21, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Soon after the bill becomes law

State Department sends formal notices to the United Nations and related UN bodies about the new law

This is the start of the official withdrawal process; people may see quick changes in U.S. participation and staffing in UN meetings and programs

As part of the withdrawal process after the bill becomes law

United States Mission to the United Nations is closed and remaining functions end

Federal workers and contractors tied to the mission could be reassigned or separated; UN-facing services handled by that office would stop

Immediately upon termination of membership

U.S. payments to the UN and UN bodies stop once membership is terminated

UN programs that depended on U.S. contributions could lose funding; U.S. foreign policy tools that use UN channels would change

As soon as the bill’s immunity changes take effect

UN staff and foreign missions to the UN lose diplomatic-style protections described in the bill

People working for the UN or foreign missions in the U.S. could face more exposure to U.S. legal processes; this could also trigger diplomatic disputes

Soon after the bill becomes law

UN entities are barred from using U.S. government property or facilities

Any UN presence on federal property would have to leave; contracts and security arrangements could change quickly

After the bill becomes law

U.S. stops taking part in UN peacekeeping operations

Fewer U.S. roles under UN missions; any future crisis response would happen through different coalitions or U.S.-led actions

Related News

8 articles

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

DEFUND Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 1498
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(17)
R: 17

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.