56 House Democrats quietly introduced the law on Thursday to abolish Congressional ban on funding to UN agencies accused of ties with Hamas.
The 2025 Near East (UNRWA) Funding UN Relief and Labor Agency for Palestinian Refugees has restored US contributions to UN groups that accused Israel of employing terrorists who participated in the Hamas October 7 attack, killing more than 1,200 people. The bill’s main sponsors are Andre Carson of Indiana, Jan Shakowski of Illinois, and Pramila Jayapal of Washington. (Related: Over 300 student visas have been revoked as Trump cracks down on foreign terrorist supporters)
House Democrats, including Democrats. Co-sponsored by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayana Presley of Massachusetts, Rashida Tribe of Minnesota, and Summer Lee of Pennsylvania. When asked by DCNF reporters on Wednesday, Lee specifically refused to answer whether he supported the Palestinian-led anti-Hama protest in Gaza.
US representatives Ilhan Omar (R) and Andre Carson arrive at the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) ceremony on September 10, 2019, in a photo of Mandel NGA/AFPPIT, to commemorate the first recorded 400th anniversary of the US Capitol Liberation Hall in Washington, DC.
The US has not contributed to UNRWA as the Biden administration fused funds to the agency in January 2024 following Israel’s accusations that at least 12 agency employees were involved in the Hamas attacks. Unrwa fired nine employees in August 2024 after realising he had taken part in the attack on October 7th.
meeting Prohibited A new contribution to UNRWA by including languages ​​that fund the FY24 Appropriations Act, passed on March 25, 2025, and March 2024, and signed into law by former President Joe Biden.
The agency is suffering from financial issues after the US and other Western countries withdraw funds amid a Hamas bond claim. The United States has historically been UNRWA’s biggest donor, and in 2023 it has funded about 30% of the agency’s budget (approximately $370 million). According to To the Parliamentary Research Service.
Trump signed Presidential Order Aside from the new UNRWA funds on February 3, the president also Cut off Congressional funding to UNRWA during his first term in August 2018.
“UNRWA has been infiltrated by members of a group that has long been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Secretary of State (the Executive Director), and UNRWA employees reportedly were involved in Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023,” Trump wrote in an executive order.
Democrat Vermont Sen. Peter Welch introduced the Senate fellow bill on March 7th to restore UNRWA funding. Democrats of Oregon, Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith of Minnesota, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Mazzy Hirono of Hawaii, and Independence Coexistence bill.
Carson, Shakovsky and Jayapal previously introduced similar laws in September 2024 to restore UNRWA funding. Quote Humanitarian concerns in Gaza and the commitment UNRWA has “towards full accountability and reform” over its terrifying relationship.
A spokesperson for Schakowsky and Jayapal did not respond to DCNF’s request for comment. A Carson spokesperson told the DCNF that lawmakers will issue a press release on the bill later Friday.
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