The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion weapons package for Israel that would supply tens of thousands of heavy munitions, according to a report from Yahoo News. Though described as a sale, the transaction is financed entirely through a mechanism known as Foreign Military Financing, meaning the United States is providing the money for Israel to acquire the weapons using American taxpayer dollars, as detailed by Rolling Stone.
Trump Administration Prepares $2.8 Billion Bomb Package for Israel
The proposed package includes a total of 40,000 bombs weighing roughly 2,000 pounds each, alongside 20,000 penetrator warheads, according to The Source. Specifically, the deal comprises 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 bombs—which are a variant featuring a thermal protective coating for naval storage—and 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads designed to attack hardened structures, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
The scale of the transaction eclipses previous sales of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel during both the Biden and Trump administrations, including a controversial $2.04 billion sale in 2025 that bypassed the normal congressional review process, according to International Business Times. The administration has informally communicated the proposal to relevant congressional committees, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pressing leaders to approve the transfer.
Characteristics and Track Record of the Heavy Munitions
The 2,000-pound munitions involved in the package possess immense destructive power. MK-84 bombs are unguided weapons capable of producing large craters and sending shrapnel and deadly force across long ranges and through concrete and metal. According to Trevor Ball, a former explosive-ordnance-disposal technician for the U.S. Army, the munitions are frequently used when targeting buildings, noting that an MK-84 can bring down an entire structure.
The deployment of these heavy bombs has faced significant international scrutiny. The UN Human Rights Office examined six Israeli attacks in Gaza involving 2,000-pound munitions during 2024, verifying 218 deaths and stating that the incidents raised serious concerns under international humanitarian law regarding distinction, proportionality, and precautions. Critics and human rights advocates have raised alarms over the use of such weapons in densely populated urban zones in Gaza and Lebanon.
During the Biden administration, the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel was temporarily halted over fears of civilian casualties. However, that policy was reversed by President Donald Trump in January 2025 during his first month back in office.
Growing Congressional Resistance and Public Polling
The $2.8 billion package arrives amid a widening political divide in Washington over U.S. military assistance to Israel, driven by ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. While Republican lawmakers remain largely unified in supporting Israel, rank-and-file members in Congress are facing mounting resistance from constituents.
Legislative pushback has manifested in several recent congressional votes. In April, the Senate rejected resolutions seeking to block separate arms sales, but more than three dozen Democratic senators backed the measures. Furthermore, in July, 104 members in the House voted for an amendment from Representative Thomas Massie seeking to eliminate $3.3 billion in military aid, a total that included 103 Democrats.
Public opinion polls similarly reflect shifting attitudes toward unconditional military aid. A June Quinnipiac poll found that nearly half of U.S. voters—including 66 percent of Democrats—believed the United States was too supportive of Israel as a whole. Additional polling from late last year indicated that a majority of Americans opposed additional economic or military aid, creating a high-stakes legislative test as the administration presses forward with the review process.