DEFUND Act of 2025

Repeals the 1948 joint resolution authorizing U.S. membership and participation in the World Health Organization and authorizing an appropriation.

• Federal agencies: The Department of State would execute withdrawal, close the U.S. Mission to the U.N., notify counterpart bodies, and unwind U.N.-related agreements. The Department of Defense would end any support or participation in U.N. peacekeeping. The Department of Health and Human Services would disengage from WHO channels and programs, requiring alternate mechanisms for global health coordination.
• Funding and programs: All assessed and voluntary U.S. contributions to U.N. entities would stop. U.N. bodies that rely on U.S. funding (including peacekeeping and specialized agencies) would face budget gaps. The bill permits only limited spending to complete withdrawal and repatriation of personnel/equipment.
• Diplomacy and operations: Without the U.N. Headquarters Agreement and specified legal immunities, U.N. personnel in the U.S. would lose recognized diplomatic privileges under U.S. law, and U.N. entities would be barred from U.S. Government property. The legal and operational footing of U.N.-related activities in the U.S. would become uncertain absent new arrangements.
• International engagement: The U.S. would exit WHO and other U.N.-related conventions and agreements, affecting public health surveillance, standards-setting, and crisis response coordination. Allies and partners would need to adjust to reduced U.S. engagement in U.N. forums; the U.S. would need alternative bilateral or multilateral mechanisms for cooperation.
• Future reentry: Any attempt to rejoin the U.N. system would require Senate approval and must include a reservation explicitly preserving a U.S. right to withdraw, shaping the terms of any future participation.

Introduced February 21, 2025 by Charles Roy · Last progress February 21, 2025