A group of Republican senators introduced a bill in the Senate to withdraw the US from the United Nations (UN). One of the authors of the bill was Mike Lee, head of the Energy Committee, representing Utah. Co-authors included Senators Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee, Rick Scott from Florida, Chip Roy from Texas, and Mike Rogers from Michigan.
"This bill addresses serious issues of national sovereignty and financial responsibility that have been associated with US participation in the UN," states a press release on Mike Lee's website, which proposes to stop funding the UN. "Hard-earned American dollars are being directed towards initiatives that go against our values," the authors of the bill stated, noting that it is time to hold this organization accountable "for enabling Hamas terrorists and the Chinese Communist Party."
The bill annuls key documents linking the US and the UN, such as the United Nations Participation Act, adopted by Congress in 1945, and the UN Headquarters Agreement in New York. It also proposes to end all forms of financial support to the UN from the US, including mandatory and voluntary contributions, and imposes a ban on any US participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
If the bill is passed, Senate approval will be required for any interaction with the UN in the future.
"The President must fully terminate US membership in the UN, as well as in all bodies, specialized agencies, commissions, and any other departments officially related to the UN," states the text of the bill.
In a comment to Fox News, Lee called the bill a response to "years of unchecked bureaucratic expansion and financial abuse by the UN at the expense of American taxpayers."
Two Republicans from the House of Representatives will also introduce the document for consideration in the lower house of Congress. One of them, Chip Roy, accused the UN of supporting Hamas and actions against Israel — a US ally, as well as "spreading climate hysteria" and "covering up Chinese forced abortion and sterilization programs."
According to data from the US Council on Foreign Relations, in 2022, the United States donated $18 billion to the UN, which accounted for about a third of the organization's entire budget.