Intimidation and Self-Sabotage: A Strategic Look at the U.N. Defunding Bills
By: Robert McDonald, Senior Legislative Researcher, A New Policy
For generations, the United States championed a world built on international cooperation and self-determination. It was the driving force behind the creation of the United Nations and the post-World War II vision of supporting nations emerging from colonialism that is captured in the very first article of the U.N. Charter, recognizing a right of self-determination. This essential legacy, America’s role as the world’s leading diplomatic partner is under a direct and self-defeating legislative assault. A pair of new bills, called The No Official Palestine Entry (NOPE) Act of 2025 (S.1612, H.R.3208) threatens to weaken U.S. foreign policy and sacrifice America’s global influence for a self-contradictory political objective. During markup of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the NOPE act was added into H.R. 5300 (Department of State Policy Provisions Act) through voice vote under Baird amendment #20. The Department of State Policy Provisions Act is currently waiting to go to the rules committee before it can go to a floor vote.
The Proposed Legislation: A Financial ‘Kill Switch’ for Global Diplomacy
These bills are designed to prohibit all U.S. funding for the United Nations or any of its bodies if the State of Palestine is provided with “any status, rights, or privileges beyond [its current] observer status.” This language functionally tightens existing laws, creating a financial ‘kill switch’ held over the entire United Nations – or at least any significant U.S. influence over it.
The Strategic Threat: Intimidation and Self-Sabotage
This legislation is not about accountability; it is a tool of raw intimidation and a diplomatic shield for Israel to maintain the status quo in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza. As the U.N.’s largest contributor, the U.S. is wielding a “loaded gun” to prevent the international community from providing any additional recognition to a State of Palestine or acknowledge its right to exist. However, that gun is equally pointed at America’s own foot. For years, the U.S. has been deeply concerned about ceding influence within the U.N. system to adversaries, including the People’s Republic of China. This bill threatens to accelerate that loss, forcing an American withdrawal and creating a massive power vacuum that its competitors stand to gain from.
Why These Bills Directly Undermine Core American Values and Interests
This legislation establishes a dangerous conflict between America’s stated goals of a two state solution, the goals of its people who favor recognition of a Palestinian state, and its legislative actions, undermining its credibility and tying the hands of its own diplomats.
Abandoning the American Legacy: The U.S. led the world in creating the U.N. to prevent global conflict and provide a forum for diplomacy. Intimidating the world’s leading international forum in order to oppose recognition of a state runs directly counter to America’s own policies and the international vision of Franklin Roosevelt who, as President Truman said, “gave his life while trying to perpetuate these high ideals.”
Rank Hypocrisy and Weakening U.S, Diplomacy: These bills put the U.S. in an impossible position. The United States cannot, on the one hand, endorse a Two-State Solution and, on the other, threaten to withdraw from the major forum for international diplomacy if that outcome is advanced.
Limiting the President: This functionally enhances a limitation on the President’s Article II Foreign Relations powers, preventing even a U.S.-supported upgrade of the Palestinian Mission’s status during future negotiations.
The Taiwan Contradiction: In a remarkable expression of hypocrisy, the bills conclude with a section noting their language does not apply to Taiwan. The authors themselves realize the parallels between the two conditions but have chosen to enforce a clear, contradictory standard.
In sum, this legislation asks America to abandon its own diplomatic objectives, surrender its global influence to its rivals, and undermine the very international system it built, all for an objective that contradicts its own stated foreign policy of a two-state solution. The NOPE Act is an attempt to hold the UN hostage, but succeeds only in weakening America’s own influence.
