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Read. Follow. Verify.The DEFUND Act of 2023
Last action · December 6, 2023: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.Sponsor: Mike Lee
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill proposes that the United States terminate its membership in the United Nations and all affiliated bodies, including the World Health Organization. It would close the U.S. Mission to the UN, end all financial contributions, and revoke for UN personnel.
If passed, this bill would fundamentally alter U.S. foreign policy by ending all formal participation in the United Nations and its agencies, requiring the immediate cessation of all related federal funding and diplomatic agreements.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
United Nations
The organization would lose U.S. membership, funding, and diplomatic status within the United States.
U.S. Department of State
The agency would be responsible for executing the withdrawal and notifying the UN of the policy change.
UN personnel in the U.S.
These individuals would lose their diplomatic immunity and access to U.S. government facilities.
Key Facts
- Repeals the United Nations Participation Act of 1945.
- Mandates the termination of all U.S. membership in the UN and its specialized agencies.
- Orders the closure of the United States Mission to the United Nations.
- Repeals the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act of 1947.
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- Prohibits all future assessed or voluntary financial contributions to the UN and its affiliated bodies.
- Bans U.S. participation in any UN peacekeeping operations.
- Prohibits the UN from occupying or using any U.S. government property.
- Revokes diplomatic immunity for all UN officers, employees, and their families.
- Repeals U.S. participation in the World Health Organization.
- Requires the Secretary of State to formally notify the UN of these provisions.
- Requires Senate advice and consent for any future U.S. reentry into the UN.
- Allows for limited funding only to facilitate the withdrawal of personnel and equipment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Would the U.S. still be able to join the UN in the future?
What happens to the UN headquarters in New York?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Total Institutional Withdrawal
The bill targets not just membership, but the physical presence and legal protections of the UN within the U.S.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance95How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy90Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz60Current news / social attention level
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