Bipartisan House bill calling for UNRWA to be dismantled permanently, replaced ‘long overdue,’ expert says

A new bipartisan House bill, the “Replace UNRWA with Real Humanitarian Assistance Act,” introduced by Reps. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.), seeks to permanently dismantle and replace the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Experts, including Yoni Tobin of JINSA, state this action is “long overdue,” citing UNRWA’s alleged deep-seated issues, including employees’ ties to terrorist organizations and the promotion of antisemitism in educational materials. The bill mandates the U.S. Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy within 180 days, in coordination with international partners, to wind down UNRWA and transfer its responsibilities to other entities, with implementation beginning within one year. This initiative follows reports, such as one from USAID’s Office of Inspector General, indicating that over 100 current or former UNRWA staff members were referred for suspension due to participation in the October 7 attacks or ties to terrorist groups. Lawler stated, “UNRWA has repeatedly failed to meet the basic standards of accountability and neutrality,” while Gottheimer emphasized, “Aid should feed families, not fund terror.”