Utah Valley Times

Washington, D.C. — Representative John Curtis (R-UT) has introduced the Determining Excessive Funding for the United Nations for Dereliction (DEFUND) Act, a bill aimed at assessing the importance of U.S. involvement in United Nations (UN) agencies. This move follows an investigation into the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) and its employees' alleged involvement in an attack on Israel. The attack resulted in the largest loss of Jewish lives since the Holocaust.

Rep. Curtis explains the purpose of the bill, stating, "It is clear that many UN programs work against U.S. interests, and reports are now showing some explicitly fund terrorism. This bill will get our priorities on the record and ensure taxpayer dollars flow only to programs that are necessary for the security of the United States."

Over the past four years, numerous examples have emerged showcasing the failures and misconduct of international agencies. The World Health Organization (WHO) neglected Taiwan's warnings, compromising its mission to prevent global pandemics. The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has become a platform for countries that abuse human rights to criticize the United States and Israel. Additionally, UNRWA has acknowledged the involvement and celebration of its employees in the October 7th massacres.

To address these concerns and determine which UN organizations deserve continued funding, the bill proposes the creation of a ranking system based on U.S. interests. By ranking the agencies, Congress can make informed decisions regarding the allocation of taxpayer funds. The goal is to defund or significantly reduce support for organizations that harm U.S. interests or fail to prioritize them adequately.

Rep. Curtis emphasizes that not all aspects of American involvement in the United Nations are wasteful. The veto power held by the U.S. on the Security Council, for example, serves to safeguard American interests and those of its allies. However, there are other aspects that waste taxpayer money, attack allies, and legitimize oppressive regimes.

In light of recent revelations regarding UNRWA, it is evident that reforms are necessary. Reports indicate that approximately 10% of Gaza staff members have ties to Islamist militant groups, while close relatives of nearly half of all UNRWA employees have official connections to such groups, mainly Hamas.

The bill also highlights the substantial financial burden placed on the United States. In 2022, the U.S. contributed a staggering $18,095,456,587, accounting for 33.6 percent of all government donations to the United Nations.

While the UN engages in various activities such as preserving world heritage sites and organizing international standards, not all organizations hold equal importance. The U.S. and its allies, including Russia, China, France, and the UK, hold veto power on the Security Council, underscoring its significance. However, there are other UN entities that range from commendable to superfluous to concerning. Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Cuba, and Russia have been elected to the UN Human Rights Council, despite their questionable human rights records. Iran and North Korea are presiding over the UN Conference on Disarmament, despite their own nuclear ambitions. The WHO's mishandling of the COVID outbreak due to Chinese influence and widespread sexual abuse among UN "peacekeeping" forces further demonstrate the need for scrutiny.

The DEFUND Act seeks to address these disparities and ensure that U.S. taxpayer support aligns with national security interests. By ranking UN agencies based on their relevance to U.S. priorities, the bill aims to prevent the argument that all organizations are equally important.

The bill and its provisions can be accessed by clicking HERE. As the DEFUND Act garners attention, it signifies a push for greater accountability and a reassessment of taxpayer funding to the United Nations.