Proposed Bill Calls for U.S. Withdrawal from the United Nations

The American Sovereignty Restoration Act, proposed earlier this month, calls for the United States to completely withdraw and de-fund the United Nations.  Representative Mike Rogers of Alabama and other Republican cosponsors say taxpayer money shouldn't go to an organization that doesn't promote U.S. interests.  Every year, the U.S. gives about $8 billion to the U.N. and affiliate organizations.  And nearly 40% of that money goes toward Peacekeeping Operations.

Asha Castleberry is a U.S. Army veteran who served at the U.S. Mission to the U.N. under the State Department.  Now a professor of Political Science at Fordham University, Castleberry says cutting funding for Peacekeeping Operations only hurts our interests abroad.

"When you are utilizing or beefing up issues like Peacekeeping Operations, that helps counter emerging threats around the world," she said.

Castleberry says as the United States looks inward, that allows other countries like China and Russia to increase their global influence.

And withdrawing from the U.N. doesn't just mean the U.S. would stop participating.  The United Nations Headquarters calls Manhattan home.  The bill would evict the organization from the U.S. soil, sending diplomats packing.  Although it's unlikely the bill will get traction, it could impact Ambassador Nikki Haley's bargaining power at the U.N.