Bills
| 3.23.22

Should the U.S. Leave the United Nations? (H.R. 193)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 193?

(Updated December 4, 2021)

This bill would repeal the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 and related laws, effectively ending U.S. participation in the U.N. It would also require the president to formally end U.S. participation in all agencies, commissions, or any affiliated U.N. groups and to close the U.S. Mission to the U.N.

The bill would prohibit:

  • Funding toward assessed or voluntary contributions to the U.N.;

  • Funding for contributions to U.N. military or peacekeeping operations;

  • Spending to have U.S. Armed Forces participate in U.N. military or peacekeeping operations;

  • U.S. Armed Forces from serving under U.N. command;

  • Diplomatic immunity for U.N. officers or employees.

Argument in favor

The U.S. doesn’t get enough of a benefit from participating in the United Nations to justify government spending on it. America should leave the U.N. to focus on its own interests.

Argument opposed

The United Nations needs the U.S., the most powerful nation in the world, to stay in the international organization for credibility. America gains global influence by participating in the U.N.

Impact

U.N. programs and operations funded by U.S. tax dollars; and the U.S.

Cost of H.R. 193

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) introduced this bill to end the involvement of the U.S. with the United Nations:

“The U.S. bankrolls nearly 22 percent of the U.N.'s annual budget. Still, the U.N. continues to promote many ideals that attack American sovereignty. Most recently, the UN Security Council sided with Palestine and passed a resolution condemning Israel’s settlements in Jerusalem. Attacks against one of the United States’ greatest allies are just the most recent chapter in the UN’s dangerous agenda. Other alarming U.N. initiatives have included The Law of the Sea Treaty, The U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change’s recent move to re-establish an international regulation regime to end global warming, which would heavily target fossil fuels, and the potential Arms Trade Treaty, which would threaten our Second Amendment rights.”

This legislation has the support of eight cosponsors in the House, all of whom are Republicans.


Media:

Summary by Eric Revell

(Photo Credit: Flickr user sanjitbakshi / Creative Commons)