Trump Administration Eyes $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to Israel

The Trump administration is preparing to sell approximately 40,000 bombs, each weighing 2,000 pounds (about 900 kg), to Israel in a deal valued at $2.8 billion, according to a report by The Washington Post. The package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, and 20,000 I-2000 armor-piercing bomb bodies. The transaction is being funded through the U.S. military financing mechanism, which provides funds for Israel to purchase weaponry.

The 2,000-pound bombs are described as among the most destructive munitions used by Western militaries. The MK-84 bomb, for instance, can scatter shrapnel for miles, penetrate thick metal and concrete, and create large craters. Israel has reportedly used these types of bombs hundreds of times in Gaza and Lebanon. Trevor Ball, a former U.S. Army explosive ordnance disposal technician, stated that an MK-84 "will bring down the entire building" if Hezbollah or anyone else is inside.

During the Biden administration, one shipment of these bombs to Israel was halted in spring 2024 due to concerns about Palestinian civilian casualties. However, in January 2025, Trump reversed this policy, reinstating the possibility of transferring the bombs to Israel. Currently, the Trump administration is lobbying the chairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee to approve the deal, amid growing opposition from Democratic members of Congress regarding U.S. support for Israel.