Republicans Introduce Bill to Withdraw U.S. from United Nations
In a bold legislative move, Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill to withdraw the United States from the United Nations (U.N.), claiming that the global body no longer serves U.S. interests and undermines the “America First” foreign policy agenda of President Donald Trump.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) led the introduction of the Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025 on Thursday, a bill aimed at terminating U.S. membership in the U.N. and cutting all funding. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) co-sponsored the legislation, while Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) plans to introduce it in the House.
“The United Nations has devolved into a platform for tyrants and a venue to attack America and her allies,” Lee said, adding that the U.S. should stop financing what he calls a “sham organization.”
The U.S. currently contributes over $18 billion to the U.N., accounting for about one-third of its total budget, according to the Council on Foreign Relations.
Rep. Roy criticized U.N. bodies such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), referencing a 2024 U.N. investigation linking some UNRWA employees to Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which led the U.S. to temporarily halt funding for the agency.
“No sane country would stand for this,” Roy emphasized.
The bill also prevents the executive branch from entering any future agreements with the U.N. or its subsidiaries without Senate approval, and bars participation in U.N.-led peace negotiations.
The initiative has attracted support from notable Republicans, including Reps. Mike Rogers, Eli Crane, Diana Harshbarger, Anna Paulina Luna, Harriet Hageman, Josh Brecheen, Thomas Massie, and Marjorie Taylor Greene.
While the bill reflects growing Republican skepticism toward the U.N., recent surveys by the Pew Research Center show a divided public opinion: over 70% of Democrats favor the U.N., compared to just 34% of Republicans.
During both his terms, President Trump has moved to cut funding for several U.N. programs. In February 2025, he signed an executive order pulling the U.S. out of the U.N. Human Rights Council and permanently cut funding for UNRWA.
This push comes amid bipartisan frustrations with the U.N.’s stance on the Israel–Hamas conflict, as 11 Democrats recently joined Republicans in criticizing the U.N. for its alleged bias against Israel.
As debates continue, the proposed withdrawal would mark a historic shift in U.S. foreign policy, significantly impacting global diplomacy and international cooperation.