Sen. Tom Cotton and 24 Republican senators are urging President Donald Trump to fully dismantle UNRWA, arguing that American taxpayer money is still indirectly reaching the agency through the broader United Nations budget despite Trump’s funding ban last year. The lawmakers said roughly $70 million from the UN’s annual budget still flows to UNRWA and called for the agency to be completely removed from the UN funding system.

The senators’ letter cited ongoing investigations into alleged Hamas ties among UNRWA employees following October 7. According to findings referenced by the lawmakers, multiple staff members were accused of participating in Hamas terrorist activities, holding Israeli hostages, or assisting the attack. “Any aid organization in Gaza or otherwise must be demonstrably free of ties to terrorism and committed to transparency, accountability, and peace,” the senators wrote.

The push comes after Trump signed an executive order in February 2025 ending direct US funding to UNRWA, which had received up to $1.5 billion during the Biden administration. Congressional Republicans are also backing broader cuts to UN funding and proposals that would block American money from reaching organizations that refuse to cooperate with federal watchdog investigations.

Israeli officials have long accused UNRWA of allowing Hamas terrorists to operate inside its schools and facilities in Gaza, including claims that weapons and tunnel infrastructure were hidden near agency compounds. Earlier this month, Israel announced plans to establish government offices at the former UNRWA compound in Jerusalem as part of its broader campaign against the agency. UNRWA has denied many of the allegations against it and says some accused staff members were dismissed.