HB1498, titled the “DEFUND Act of 2025,” would require the United States to end its membership in the United Nations and all of its affiliated bodies. It repeals the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 and the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act, directs the President to terminate U.S. membership in the UN and related entities, closes the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and bars U.S. participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
The bill also prohibits U.S. funding for assessed or voluntary contributions to the UN and its affiliated bodies, except for limited funds needed to carry out withdrawal and termination activities. It would end U.S. participation in UN conventions and agreements, bar the UN from occupying U.S. government property, and eliminate diplomatic privileges and immunities for UN personnel and foreign mission personnel tied to the UN. The bill further repeals U.S. participation in the World Health Organization and restricts any future reentry into the UN system without Senate advice and consent, including a required withdrawal reservation.
If enacted, the bill would significantly alter federal law governing U.S. foreign relations, treaty implementation, diplomatic immunities, and appropriations related to international organizations. It would remove statutory authority for U.S. participation in the UN framework, affect agencies and personnel connected to UN operations, and likely require substantial administrative and diplomatic transition steps by the State Department and other federal entities.
There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so the bill’s sentiment cannot be measured from floor or committee action. Based on the text and sponsorship, the bill appears to reflect strong opposition to the United Nations and related international institutions, but the absence of transcripts or votes means there is no documented bipartisan or committee-level support to assess. The main point of contention is likely the bill’s sweeping withdrawal from the UN system, including loss of funding, peacekeeping participation, and diplomatic arrangements, which would be viewed by supporters as restoring sovereignty and by opponents as undermining U.S. influence and international cooperation.
Impact
The bill would repeal key statutes authorizing U.S. participation in the United Nations and the World Health Organization, terminate U.S. membership in the UN and affiliated bodies, end funding for UN contributions, and bar future participation absent new Senate-approved agreements. It would also revoke related headquarters and immunity arrangements, directly affecting federal foreign-affairs law, appropriations, and the legal status of UN personnel and operations in the United States.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote data is available, so there is no recorded legislative sentiment beyond the bill’s introduction and referral. The measure’s sponsors signal a strongly anti-UN posture, while the breadth of the proposal suggests it would likely be controversial because it would sever longstanding U.S. participation in international institutions and agreements.
Contention
The central controversy is whether the United States should fully withdraw from the United Nations system, including affiliated agencies such as the World Health Organization, and stop all related funding and peacekeeping participation. Supporters are likely to argue the bill protects U.S. sovereignty and ends support for an institution they view as ineffective or harmful, while opponents would likely argue it would weaken U.S. diplomatic leverage, disrupt international cooperation, and create legal and operational complications for federal agencies and foreign missions.