Trump Administration Eyes Massive $2.8 Billion Arms Deal for Israel

The Trump administration is preparing to advance one of the largest ammunition deals with Israel in recent years, estimated at approximately $2.8 billion. The package reportedly includes a substantial quantity of bombs for the Israeli Air Force, specifically 40,000 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each. Half of these are the MK-84 model, and the other half are the BLU-117 variant, which features enhanced thermal protection.

Additionally, the deal includes 20,000 I-2000 bunker-buster warheads, designed to penetrate fortified structures. This proposed sale significantly exceeds the volume of previous heavy-bomb deals approved for Israel. The funding is expected to largely come from the U.S. military aid mechanism, which provides funds for Israel to purchase American defense equipment.

The deal is not yet final and requires Congressional approval. The administration has informally notified relevant committees and is working to secure endorsement from the Senate and House Foreign Affairs committees. This move occurs less than two months before U.S. midterm elections, a period where military support for Israel has become a more contentious issue in Washington.

In July, over 100 Democratic lawmakers voted in favor of halting U.S. aid to Israel, and some conservative voices have also questioned the scale of annual assistance. The proposed arms package also stands out given recent disagreements between the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government on regional matters, yet its advancement underscores the ongoing extensive security cooperation between the two nations.

These heavy bombs have a politically charged history in Washington. The Biden administration had previously halted a shipment in Spring 2024 due to concerns about their use in densely populated areas of Gaza. Upon returning to the White House in January 2025, Trump is expected to reverse that freeze. A senior U.S. administration official declined to comment on the pending deal, stating to The Washington Post that U.S. arms sales proceed according to standard approval processes.