Republican lawmakers have introduced legislation aimed at withdrawing the U.S. from the United Nations, citing concerns that the organization does not promote American interests and does not align with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda. The bill, titled the Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025, would terminate U.S. membership in the U.N. and its affiliated bodies, as well as funding to those groups. Republican lawmakers like Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Chip Roy argue that the U.N. has become a platform for tyrants to attack America and her allies, and that the U.S. should prioritize real alliances that keep the country safe and prosperous.
Currently, the U.S. provides more funding to the U.N. than any other country, contributing over $18 billion in 2022, making up about a third of the U.N.’s budget. Lawmakers like Roy argue that despite the funding, the U.N. has failed to prevent wars, genocides, human rights violations, and pandemics. Specific U.N. groups like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) have come under scrutiny, with allegations that employees may have been involved in attacks against Israel. The U.S. temporarily halted funding for UNRWA in response to these reports, with lawmakers calling for a withdrawal from the organization.
The legislation introduced by Republican lawmakers also specifies that the U.S. may not participate in peace negotiations with the U.N. and bars the executive branch from entering agreements for membership with the U.N. without Senate approval. The U.N. has faced criticism from both Republicans and Democrats, with some lawmakers arguing that the organization has failed to remain neutral and has taken sides against Israel. This has led to calls for the U.S. to distance itself from the U.N. amid concerns about its effectiveness and alignment with American interests.
Despite the push to withdraw from the U.N., opinions on the organization remain divided among the American people. A Pew Research Center survey released in April 2024 found that over 70% of Democrats and liberal-leaning independents had a favorable view of the U.N., compared to only 34% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents. President Trump has previously sought to cut or reduce funding to U.N. groups during his first term, and has continued to do so in his second term, including pulling the U.S. out of the U.N.’s Human Rights Council and cutting funding for UNRWA. His administration has emphasized prioritizing alliances that benefit American interests and security.
In conclusion, the effort by Republican lawmakers to withdraw the U.S. from the United Nations reflects growing concerns about the organization’s effectiveness in promoting American interests and aligning with the “America First” agenda. Criticisms of the U.N., including its handling of conflicts like the Israel-Hamas conflict and allegations of employee involvement in attacks, have led to calls for the U.S. to prioritize real alliances that keep the country safe and prosperous. Despite divisions among the American people on their views of the U.N., the legislation introduced by lawmakers underscores the ongoing debate over the role of the U.S. within the international organization.
