Washington is moving to greenlight a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel, according to reports from the Washington Post and The New York Times. The deal, funded entirely by US taxpayers, includes some of the most destructive munitions in the Western arsenal: 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs, 20,000 BLU-117 hard-target munitions, and 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads. That totals 40,000 one-ton bombs.
The New York Times cited a US official who confirmed the Trump administration has already approved the sale. A senior administration official told AFP that "all foreign arms sales are moving through the appropriate process," declining to comment on pending transactions. The State Department held the standard line, noting it does not confirm proposed sales until formal notification to Congress.
The timing is stark. US military stocks are depleting rapidly due to the ongoing war with Iran. Between February 28 and June 30, the US spent $22.3 billion on munitions. Yet, Congress is about to authorize the transfer of vast quantities of heavy ordnance to an ally engaged in a conflict where civilian casualties in Gaza have drawn international scrutiny.
This marks a sharp reversal from early 2025. The Biden administration blocked a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concerns regarding civilian deaths in Gaza. The Trump administration, after taking office in early 2025, immediately approved those specific weapons. In February of that same year, it had already cleared a $7.4 billion package for bombs, missiles, and related equipment, also including MK-84s.
The next step is formal congressional notification. Once the State Department notifies Congress, a 30-day review period begins. Lawmakers, already divided on US support for Israel, will likely debate the impact of this sale on US strategic reserves.