The United Nations Voting Accountability Act of 2025 prohibits U.S. assistance to countries that vote against the U.S. position in the UN, with an exemption for countries that have fundamentally changed leadership and policies.
Warren Davidson
Representative
OH-8
The United Nations Voting Accountability Act of 2025 prohibits the United States from providing assistance to countries that vote against the U.S. position in the UN General Assembly or Security Council. The Secretary of State can grant exemptions if a country's leadership and policies fundamentally change, with notification to Congress required. This act defines "opposed the position of the United States" as voting with the U.S. less than 50% of the time and specifies which types of assistance are restricted. The Act will take effect upon submission of the report due to Congress by March 31, 2026.
U.S. Aid at Risk: New Bill Ties Funding to UN Votes
The "United Nations Voting Accountability Act of 2025" aims to do exactly what it says on the tin: hold nations accountable for how they vote in the UN. Specifically, it proposes cutting off U.S. assistance to any country that votes against the U.S. position in the United Nations more than 50% of the time.
Tying Aid to Votes
The core of the bill, found in SEC. 2, is a straightforward prohibition: no aid for countries that don't consistently side with the U.S. in UN votes. "United States assistance" is broadly defined, covering various types of aid, including funds from specific chapters of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, the Foreign Military Financing Program, and pretty much any other form of monetary or physical help. The 50% voting alignment threshold is calculated based on votes in the UN General Assembly and, for relevant countries, the Security Council (SEC. 2).
The Exemption Clause
There's a potential escape hatch, though. The Secretary of State gets the power to exempt countries if there's been a "fundamental change in the country's leadership and policies," and the country pledges to align more closely with the U.S. in future UN votes (SEC. 2). This exemption, however, only lasts until the next report under Section 406 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991, is submitted. Plus, Congress has to be notified of any exemptions. This will likely be a point of contention and intense scrutiny.
Real-World Impact and Timing
This bill's effects kick in once the report required by Section 406 of the Foreign Relations Authorization Act (due by March 31, 2026) is submitted to Congress (SEC. 2). Imagine a small, developing nation heavily reliant on U.S. aid for, say, essential medical supplies or agricultural development. If that nation's voting record in the UN doesn't align with the U.S. at least half the time, that aid could be cut off. This could force some tough choices between accepting aid or voting to support their own national interests. The bill could significantly alter the dynamics of international relations, potentially making aid a much more conditional, and perhaps even coercive, tool. The Secretary of State's exemption power adds a layer of potential political maneuvering, raising questions about how consistently and fairly the law would be applied.