Trump Moves With $2.8 Billion Israel Weapons Deal Featuring 40,000 Bombs Previously Restricted

The Trump administration moved forward on September 15 with plans for a $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel. The proposed package includes 40,000 highly destructive 2,000-pound bombs, making it one of the largest recent U.S. sales of the powerful munition to Israel and another major expansion of American military support for the country.

The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and another 20,000 BLU-117s, according to officials familiar with the transaction. It would also include 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads intended for hardened targets. Much of the purchase would be financed through U.S. Foreign Military Financing provided to Israel for the acquisition of American-made defense equipment.

The Washington Post first revealed details of the proposed transaction after officials familiar with the plans spoke on condition of anonymity. Instead of announcing the enormous package through a presidential speech or high-profile White House event, the administration advanced it through the preliminary arms-sale process, with congressional committees receiving informal notification before any final approval.

Informal notification allows key congressional committees to examine a sensitive arms transaction before the administration formally submits it. The $2.8 billion package therefore remains pending rather than finalized. Once formally notified, lawmakers can scrutinize the proposal and potentially seek to block it, although successfully stopping an arms sale involves substantial political and procedural hurdles.

Trump has previously demonstrated a willingness to accelerate weapons transfers to Israel. His administration bypassed the customary congressional review process for a multibillion-dollar package in 2025, while additional sales worth $6.67 billion were announced in January 2026. Regarding the latest proposal, an administration official said: «We do not comment on pending sales.»

The weapons are particularly controversial because of their enormous destructive power. The Biden administration suspended a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs in 2024 amid concerns about civilian casualties in densely populated Gaza. Trump reversed that hold shortly after returning to office in January 2025, restoring deliveries of weapons that had become a major source of disagreement with Israel.

The new package arrives less than two months before the November midterm elections, when control of the House and Senate will be decided. Trump is not personally on the ballot, but the congressional results will determine the political balance confronting his administration during the final two years of his term and could reshape oversight of his foreign-policy agenda.

The stakes extend directly to issues such as arms sales. Congressional committees review major foreign weapons transactions, while lawmakers can introduce measures seeking to stop them. A change in control of either chamber could therefore alter the legislative and oversight environment facing Trump on Israel, military spending and other foreign-policy priorities during the remainder of his presidency.

Netanyahu is simultaneously approaching Israel’s October 27 election amid a fragmented political landscape. Recent surveys have shown neither his supporting bloc nor its opponents consistently reaching the 61 Knesset seats necessary for a majority. The polling does not determine the election outcome, but it illustrates the competitive political environment surrounding Netanyahu as the American weapons package advances.

The massive sale is moving ahead despite significant strains between Trump and Netanyahu over regional military strategy. Their relationship has faced renewed pressure during the war with Iran and disputes surrounding Israeli operations elsewhere in the Middle East. Jared Kushner has also pressed Netanyahu to reduce certain military actions as Washington has pursued broader regional stability.

The proposed transfer ultimately demonstrates that political disagreements between Trump and Netanyahu have not severed the countries’ extensive military relationship. With 40,000 heavy bombs potentially involved, Congress preparing to scrutinize the transaction and both governments facing consequential elections, the $2.8 billion package sits at the intersection of U.S.-Israel security cooperation and domestic political pressure.