TDS Desk:

The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion munitions sale to Israel that would include 40,000 heavy bombs (2,000-pound bombs), according to Reuters.

A US official said the package contains 20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s. The Washington Post, which first reported the plan, said it would also include 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads.

Reuters reported that the proposal has been informally shared with the congressional committees that review major arms sales, but has not yet been formally notified to Congress.

The numbers are striking. But so is the types of weapons involved.

So what can these bombs do, why did the Biden administration previously hold some of them back, and can Congress stop Trump’s latest package?

What Exactly is in the Package?

The two headline weapons are the MK-84 and BLU-117, both 2,000-pound-class general-purpose bombs.

The MK-84 is designed to produce powerful blast and fragmentation effects and can be dropped unguided or fitted with guidance kits such as JDAM.

The BLU-117 is closely related to the MK-84 but uses a different explosive fill designed to make it less susceptible to accidental detonation.

The proposed package would include 20,000 of each — 40,000 heavy bombs in total.

The Washington Post also reported that Israel would receive 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads, designed for harder targets.

Those should not simply be added to the bomb count, however. The I-2000s are penetrator warheads rather than another 20,000 complete general-purpose bombs.

Why Are 2,000-Pound Bombs So Controversial?

Their size gives them enormous destructive power, which becomes particularly contentious when they are used in densely populated areas.

Reuters says Israel has regularly used 2,000-pound bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, drawing scrutiny from rights experts over civilian casualties and destruction.

The context matters.

A heavy bomb used against an isolated military installation presents a very different civilian risk from one dropped in a densely built-up neighbourhood.

That distinction was at the centre of an earlier dispute between Washington and Israel.

Why Did Biden Pause Them?

In 2024, the Biden administration paused delivery of 1,800 MK-84 2,000-pound bombs over concerns about their potential use in densely populated Gaza, particularly Rafah.

Donald Trump lifted that hold shortly after returning to office in January 2025.

Reuters reported at the time that the bombs had already been purchased by Israel and were released for shipment once the pause was removed.

The contrast with the latest proposal is notable:

Biden-era hold: 1,800 MK-84 bombs

Latest proposal: 20,000 MK-84s + 20,000 BLU-117s

But they are separate transactions. The earlier weapons had already been approved and paid for. The new package is a separate proposed sale.

How Does This Compare with Previous US Sales?

The US has approved large shipments of similar weapons before.

In February 2025, the Trump administration approved a $2.04 billion package containing 35,529 MK-84 or BLU-117 bomb bodies, or a combination of both, plus 4,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads.

The State Department used emergency authority for that sale, bypassing the normal congressional review period.

The latest proposal would contain 40,000 MK-84 and BLU-117 bombs, according to Reuters, with another 20,000 I-2000 warheads reported by the Washington Post.

So the $2.8 billion price tag is not unprecedented by itself. What stands out is the concentration of heavy 2,000-pound munitions in the package.

Has the Sale Been Approved and Can Congress Stop It?

No formal congressional notification has yet been made.

Reuters says the administration has only informally communicated the proposal to the relevant congressional committees.

Under the normal Foreign Military Sales process, major proposed sales first undergo informal committee review before formal notification to Congress.

Once formally notified, lawmakers have a limited statutory review period and can try to block the deal through a joint resolution of disapproval.

But stopping an administration-backed arms sale is difficult, particularly if the president is prepared to veto legislation blocking it.

There is also an important exception: administrations can invoke emergency authority and bypass the normal review process, as the Trump administration did with the $2.04 billion munitions sale in February 2025.

For now, though, the latest proposal remains at the informal review stage.

Who Would Pay For It?

Most of the package would be financed through US foreign military assistance.

Under the Foreign Military Financing programme, Washington provides Israel with funds that can be used to buy US-made weapons and defence equipment.

That means much of the proposed transaction would be funded through US government military aid rather than being an entirely cash-funded Israeli purchase.

The earlier batch of 1,800 MK-84 bombs released by Trump in January 2025 was different. Reuters reported that Israel had already purchased those weapons.

When Could the Weapons Arrive and Why Does the Sale Matter Now?

Not immediately.

Even after approval, major arms sales can take months or years to move through contracting, production and delivery.

The February 2025 sale of similar bomb bodies and penetrator warheads, for example, was approved well before deliveries were expected to begin.

The exact delivery schedule for the latest proposed package has not been made public.

The proposal nevertheless carries significance because it would provide Israel with a very large stock of heavy munitions at a time when the use of such weapons remains central to debate over civilian harm and US military support.

Reuters says Israel has regularly used 2,000-pound bombs in Gaza and Lebanon, drawing scrutiny from rights experts.

For now, the key point is procedural as much as military — Trump wants to sell Israel tens of thousands of heavy bombs, but the package remains at the informal congressional-review stage.

The next major step will be whether the administration formally notifies Congress and moves the deal towards completion.