During a Wednesday hearing of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Rick Scott officially introduced a pair of legislative measures aimed at overhauling how the United States interacts with the United Nations and other international intergovernmental organizations (IGOs).
The two bills, titled the Stop Support for UNRWA Act of 2026 and the IGO Anti-Boycott Act of 2026, seek to increase accountability for the use of American taxpayer dollars abroad.
The Stop Support for UNRWA Act is designed to permanently end U.S. funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. The move follows reports linking agency employees to the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. Beyond cutting off the cash flow, the bill would revoke legal immunities for UNRWA officials, potentially opening them up to lawsuits in U.S. courts.
It also includes a broader provision to block funding for any U.N. bodies chaired by nations officially designated as state sponsors of terrorism by the State Department.
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“For decades, UNRWA has operated as a permanent refugee bureaucracy,” Senator Scott said during the hearing. “But since the October 7 terrorist attacks, evidence has clearly shown that UNRWA employees actively supported Hamas, have promoted antisemitic and extremist content in schools, and have even participated in atrocities against Israeli civilians.”
The second piece of legislation, the IGO Anti-Boycott Act of 2026, updates 1970s-era laws to address modern economic pressure campaigns. It targets international agencies that create “blacklists” of Israeli companies or attempt to delegitimize the nation economically.
Under this act, the government would be required to publish an annual report listing any foreign governments or IGOs participating in such boycotts.
Scott framed the bills as a matter of national sovereignty and fiscal responsibility, echoing sentiments previously shared by Secretary Marco Rubio.
“With every dime we spend, we must ask: Does this make America safer, stronger, and more prosperous?” Scott told the committee. “The American people should not have to hand over their hard-earned money to support organizations that funnel their resources to state sponsors of terror.”
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The Senator also noted that the bills were introduced with the support of several colleagues, including Senators Hoeven, Tim Scott, Ricketts, Hagerty, Barrasso, Britt, Budd, and Lee. During the proceedings, Scott invited Ambassador Mike Waltz to weigh in on how the U.S. can ensure that its contributions to international bodies reflect American values rather than undermining them.
“My bills affirm that our commitment to our allies will never be subordinated to the agendas of unaccountable international organizations,” Scott concluded. The hearing marks a significant step in the ongoing debate over the United States’ role and financial influence within the United Nations framework.
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