The "DEFUND Act of 2025" terminates U.S. membership in the United Nations and all affiliated bodies, prohibits funding and participation in UN activities, and revokes diplomatic immunities and agreements.
Mike Lee
Senator
UT
The "DEFUND Act of 2025" terminates U.S. membership in the United Nations and its affiliated bodies, repealing key acts such as the United Nations Participation Act of 1945. It prohibits U.S. contributions to the UN, participation in peacekeeping operations, and revokes diplomatic immunity for UN personnel. The bill also withdraws the U.S. from the World Health Organization and any UN conventions, while barring future reentry into the UN without Senate approval.
U.S. Out of the UN? New Bill Proposes Complete Withdrawal, Effective Immediately
The "Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025" (DEFUND Act) is exactly what it sounds like: a total pullout of the United States from the United Nations. This bill, if passed, would repeal the 1945 UN Participation Act and the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement Act, effectively ending U.S. membership and kicking the UN headquarters off U.S. soil (Sec. 2 & 3).
Pulling the Plug
The DEFUND Act immediately stops all funding to the UN and its related agencies, like the World Health Organization (WHO) (Sec. 4 & 7). It also cancels any U.S. involvement in UN peacekeeping operations. Think of it as a landlord evicting a tenant and cutting off all utilities, effective immediately. For example, a U.S. diplomat currently working on a climate accord through the UN would be recalled, and their work would cease. Any U.S. funding earmarked for, say, a WHO initiative to combat a disease outbreak would be frozen. The language in Section 4 makes it clear: no more money, period, "notwithstanding when such amounts were made available."
No More Diplomatic Immunity
This bill doesn't just cut ties; it changes the rules of engagement. Section 6 removes diplomatic immunity for all UN personnel and representatives in the U.S. This means they could be subject to U.S. laws and courts without the usual protections afforded to diplomats. Imagine a UN official involved in a legal dispute – they'd be facing the U.S. legal system directly, with no special safeguards. The bill specifically states that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations would no longer apply.
Long-Term Lockout
Beyond the immediate withdrawal, the DEFUND Act makes it harder for the U.S. to rejoin the UN in the future. Section 9 requires Senate approval for any new agreements, and even then, the U.S. must reserve the right to withdraw again. This is like putting a clause in a contract that lets you walk away at any time, signaling a clear lack of long-term commitment. The Secretary of State is required to notify the United Nations and all affiliated organizations about the withdrawal and changes in the law. This is a significant shift, moving from engagement to isolation on the global stage.