Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- S. 4295
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-12T11:03:32Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to block U.S. financial support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and restrict U.S. funding or participation in United Nations (UN) entities led by governments designated as state sponsors of terrorism (countries that repeatedly support international terrorism, as determined under various U.S. laws).
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on UNRWA Funding (Sec. 2): Bans all U.S. voluntary or involuntary contributions to UNRWA, any successor or related entity, or the UN's regular budget if used to support UNRWA.
- Restrictions on UN Delegations and Contributions (Sec. 3):
- No federal funds for U.S. delegations to any UN agency, body, or commission chaired by a state sponsor of terrorism.
- No U.S. contributions to any UN organization, agency, commission, or program led by such a country.
- Revokes diplomatic privileges, exemptions, and immunities (legal protections typically granted to international organization staff) for all UNRWA officials, employees, or representatives under the International Organizations Immunities Act or other laws.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a total ban on U.S. funding for UNRWA, which previously received U.S. contributions.
- Expands restrictions beyond direct aid bans by tying them to the leadership of UN entities (e.g., chairs or presiding countries designated under laws like the Foreign Assistance Act or Arms Export Control Act).
- Overrides prior legal immunities for UNRWA personnel, removing protections that allowed them to operate without certain U.S. legal liabilities.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: The State Department cannot use federal funds for specified UN activities, potentially limiting U.S. diplomatic engagement and requiring budget reallocations.
- Citizens: U.S. taxpayers' funds are redirected away from UNRWA and restricted UN bodies; no direct impact on domestic citizens but could affect U.S. foreign aid priorities.
- International Relations: May strain U.S.-UN ties, signal opposition to terrorism-supporting countries' influence in UN leadership, and reduce U.S. support for Palestinian refugee aid through UNRWA.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government: Congress, State Department, and agencies handling foreign aid and UN relations.
- UN Entities: UNRWA (directly defunded), other UN agencies led by state sponsors of terrorism.
- Other Parties: Palestinian refugees relying on UNRWA services; governments designated as state sponsors of terrorism (e.g., those under U.S. determinations like Iran or Syria); U.S. taxpayers and pro-Israel advocacy groups supporting the bill.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Creates enforceable funding prohibitions and immunity revocations, potentially leading to lawsuits over aid diversions or diplomatic privileges; relies on existing terrorism designations without new criteria.
- Constitutional: Affirms Congress's power over federal spending (appropriations clause) and foreign affairs, but could face challenges if seen as infringing executive foreign policy discretion.
- Political: Positions the U.S. firmly against entities perceived to benefit groups like Hamas; introduced by Republican senators, it reflects partisan priorities on counterterrorism and UN reform.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (9)
Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Lee, Mike [R-UT], Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-15: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
- 2026-04-15: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Stop Support for United Nations Relief and Works Agency Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-15 — PDF (3 pages)