SB 669, titled the “Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025” or the “DEFUND Act of 2025,” would end U.S. membership in the United Nations and sharply curtail all formal ties between the United States and the UN system. The bill 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 all affiliated bodies, closes the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, and bars U.S. participation in UN peacekeeping operations.
The bill also prohibits federal funding for assessed or voluntary contributions to the UN and its affiliated entities, except for limited funds needed to carry out withdrawal and termination. It further bars the UN and related bodies from using U.S. government property or facilities, removes diplomatic and related immunities for UN personnel and foreign missions to the UN, repeals U.S. participation in the World Health Organization, and ends U.S. involvement in UN conventions and agreements. Finally, it would prevent reentry into the UN or related bodies without Senate advice and consent, and require any future membership agreement to preserve a U.S. right to withdraw.
Impact
If enacted, the bill would substantially rewrite U.S. law governing international organization participation by repealing or nullifying several long-standing statutes and agreements that underpin U.S. membership in the UN system. It would eliminate legal authority for U.S. financial contributions, participation in peacekeeping, and the operation of the U.S. Mission to the UN, while also affecting diplomatic immunities and treaty-based arrangements tied to the UN headquarters and related organizations. The bill would directly affect the State Department, U.S. personnel assigned to UN-related work, and any federal programs or agreements connected to UN bodies, including the World Health Organization.
Sentiment
There is no recorded committee debate or vote history in the provided materials, so no formal bipartisan or committee sentiment can be measured from the record here. The bill’s text and title indicate a strongly anti-UN posture and an intent to fully disengage from the organization rather than reform U.S. participation. Its introduction by Senator Lee, with cosponsors Blackburn and Scott of Florida, suggests support from lawmakers favoring a more unilateral or sovereignty-focused foreign policy approach.
Contention
The central point of contention is the bill’s sweeping scope: it does not merely reduce funding or condition participation, but seeks complete withdrawal from the UN, affiliated agencies, and related agreements. Likely areas of dispute include the loss of U.S. influence in international diplomacy, peacekeeping, global health coordination, and treaty-based cooperation, versus arguments that UN membership constrains U.S. sovereignty and imposes unnecessary costs. The bill also raises legal and operational questions about terminating existing treaty obligations, ending immunities, and managing the withdrawal of personnel, property, and ongoing international commitments.