UN Faces Major U.S. Funding Cuts Over Pro-PLO Vote Push

In a bold legislative move aimed at defending Israel and curbing what they describe as deep-seated bias at the United Nations, Senate Republicans have introduced a bill to cut U.S. funding to the UN and other international bodies that attempt to elevate the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) beyond its current observer status. The measure, titled the No Official Palestine Entry Act of 2025, is spearheaded by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman James Risch (R-Idaho) and has already garnered strong support within Republican ranks.

The legislation comes in response to ongoing international efforts to grant the PLO full member status at the UN, an initiative that gained traction in April 2024. At that time, a UN Security Council resolution to upgrade Palestine’s standing nearly passed, with support from 12 nations including Russia, France, China, and Japan. The United Kingdom and Switzerland abstained. The resolution was ultimately blocked only due to a decisive U.S. veto, exercised by Deputy Ambassador Robert Wood, who cited unresolved questions about Palestinian statehood, particularly Hamas’s continued control and influence in the Gaza Strip, a territory integral to the proposed Palestinian state.

“Once created to be a bastion of peace and security in the world, the United Nations is now a seat of antisemitism and in desperate need of reform,” Risch stated, in remarks shared exclusively with The Post. “Israel is one of America’s greatest allies, and we cannot tolerate or fund any anti-Israel bias or favouritism for the Palestinian Liberation Organization at the UN. The bill will ensure that America has Israel’s back when it matters most.”

The No Official Palestine Entry Act has attracted the backing of 19 Senate Republicans, including high-profile figures like Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.). Support in the House is also mounting, with at least nine Republican lawmakers endorsing the bill, including House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas).

The legislation aims to send a clear message: U.S. taxpayer dollars will not support international institutions that attempt to legitimize the PLO or undermine Israel’s standing on the world stage. Historically, U.S. contributions make up roughly 22% of the UN’s regular budget, meaning any funding cut would deal a substantial financial blow.

Republicans argue that the UN has increasingly served as a platform for anti-Israel sentiment, pointing to years of resolutions condemning Israel while downplaying or ignoring the actions of Hamas and other Palestinian factions. The bill represents, in the words of some proponents, a “punch in the stomach” to an international body perceived as drifting further from impartiality and justice.

If passed, the legislation would make it explicitly illegal for the U.S. to provide funding to any UN agency or international organization that attempts to upgrade Palestine’s status or afford it privileges reserved for recognized sovereign states.

The fight over the bill is likely to sharpen partisan divides in Congress, but supporters insist the stakes are clear: standing firmly with Israel and halting what they see as growing antisemitism within global diplomatic institutions.