A group of Republican lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a bill in Washington seeking to withdraw the United States from the United Nations (UN) and its affiliated organisations. The proposed legislation, titled the Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025, aims to end U.S. membership and funding for the UN, citing concerns over corruption and inefficiency.

The bill was introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) on February 20, 2025, and will be presented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Chip Roy (R-Texas). The lawmakers argue that the UN has become a platform for authoritarian regimes and a forum that undermines U.S. interests and those of its allies.

Senator Lee criticised the UN, stating that it has failed to uphold its original mission, while Representative Roy accused the organisation of widespread corruption and an inability to prevent wars, genocides, human rights violations, and pandemics.

The proposed legislation includes the following measures:

●     Complete withdrawal of U.S. membership from the United Nations and its affiliated agencies.

●     An end to all U.S. financial contributions to the UN.

●     A ban on U.S. participation in UN-led peace negotiations.

●     A restriction preventing the executive branch from rejoining the UN or any of its organisations without Senate approval.

The bill has received support from several Republican lawmakers, including Mike Rogers (Alabama), Eli Crane (Arizona), Diana Harshbarger (Tennessee), Anna Paulina Luna (Florida), Harriet Hageman (Wyoming), Josh Brecheen (Oklahoma), Thomas Massie (Kentucky) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Georgia).

Former President Donald Trump has been a longtime critic of the UN, expressing skepticism about its role in global affairs. Shortly after returning to office in January 2025, Trump signed an executive order on February 4, 2025, to withdraw the U.S. from the UN Human Rights Council and continue suspending funds for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which supports Palestinian refugees.

The funding suspension for UNRWA follows similar actions taken by former President Joe Biden in January 2024 after Israel accused 12 out of 13,000 agency employees in Gaza of involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.

If passed, this bill would mark a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy, potentially impacting global diplomacy, humanitarian aid and peacekeeping efforts. Critics argue that U.S. withdrawal could weaken American influence in international affairs, while supporters believe it would protect U.S. sovereignty and end financial waste on ineffective global initiatives.

The bill is expected to face intense debate in Congress, with Democrats likely to oppose it, emphasising the importance of U.S. leadership in global governance. The final decision will depend on legislative negotiations and political dynamics in Washington.