Congress·In Committee·H.R. 1498

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

DEFUND Act of 2025

about 1 year ago·View on Congress.gov

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Stalled

No legislative action in over 90 days.

Legislative Progress

House

Senate

President

Law

Key Points

Ends U.S. membership in the United Nations and its related bodies, and tells the President to carry out the withdrawal.
From policy text
“The President shall terminate all membership by the United States in the United Nations, and in any organ, specialized agency, commission, or other formally affiliated body of the United Nations.”
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Closes the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and says any leftover work from that office must stop.
From policy text
“The United States Mission to the United Nations is closed. Any remaining functions of such office shall not be carried out.”
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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.
From policy text
“No funds are authorized to be appropriated or otherwise made available for assessed or voluntary contributions of the United States to the United Nations or to any organ, specialized agency, commission or other formally affiliated body of the United Nations, except that funds may be appropriated to facilitate termination of United States membership and withdrawal of United States personnel and equipment, in accordance with sections 2 and 3, respectively.”
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Bars the U.S. from joining United Nations peacekeeping operations.
From policy text
“The United States may not participate in any peacekeeping operation of the United Nations.”
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Ends U.S. participation in the World Health Organization and other U.N.-linked agreements, and makes it harder to rejoin without Senate approval.
From policy text
“The joint resolution entitled ``Joint Resolution providing for membership and participation by the United States in the World Health Organization and authorizing an appropriation therefor'', approved June 14, 1948 (22 U.S.C. 290), is repealed.”
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Foreign PolicyNational SecurityHealthcareTrade

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

How this policy affects specific groups of people

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

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