The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion arms package for Israel that would include 40,000 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each, potentially making it the largest single U.S. transfer of such munitions to Israel in recent years.

The proposed package comes at a particularly consequential moment for U.S.-Israeli relations. Washington is simultaneously waging a costly war against Iran, facing pressure on its ammunition inventories and debating the long-term financial and strategic consequences of the conflict.

According to a U.S. official familiar with the proposed sale, the package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, as well as 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads designed to attack hardened or fortified targets. The Washington Post first reported the planned transaction.

The transaction has been informally communicated to relevant congressional committees, but it has not yet been finalized.

A $2.8 Billion Package Financed by U.S. Taxpayers

Although described as an arms sale, the proposed transaction would largely be financed through the United States' Foreign Military Financing mechanism.

Under that system, Washington provides financing that Israel uses to purchase American-made military equipment.

The proposed package would therefore represent a significant commitment of U.S. resources at a time when the federal government is already facing enormous costs associated with the war against Iran.

The administration has not publicly confirmed the pending sale.

A senior U.S. official told The Washington Post that foreign arms sales go through the appropriate review process and that the administration does not comment on transactions that remain pending.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The MK-84: Most Powerful Conventional Bombs

The MK-84 is a 2,000-pound general-purpose bomb and one of the most powerful conventional air-dropped munitions in the U.S. arsenal.

Its explosive force can penetrate substantial structures and generate a large fragmentation radius.

The weapon has been used extensively by Israel during military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, according to reporting by The Washington Post and Reuters.

Its use has attracted international scrutiny because of the potential consequences when such weapons are deployed in densely populated urban areas.

The weapon was reportedly nicknamed the "Hammer" by U.S. pilots during the Gulf War.

Former U.S. Army explosive-ordnance technician Trevor Ball told The Washington Post that the bomb is particularly destructive when used against buildings, because its explosive force can destroy an entire structure.

Biden Suspended One Shipment — Trump Reversed 

The political history of the MK-84 in U.S.-Israeli relations is particularly significant.

In 2024, during the Biden administration, Washington temporarily suspended a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel over concerns about civilian casualties in Gaza.

It was the only major category of Israeli-bound munition whose shipment Biden explicitly halted during the Gaza war.

After returning to the White House in January 2025, President Donald Trump reversed that policy and authorized the release of the previously withheld shipment.

The new $2.8 billion package would go substantially beyond that earlier transfer.

Bigger Than Previous Trump and Biden-Era Deals

The proposed transaction would exceed previous U.S. sales of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel under both administrations.

It would also surpass a $2.04 billion arms package approved in 2025, which was controversial because the administration used an emergency mechanism to bypass the normal congressional review process.

The new proposal is instead being informally communicated to the relevant congressional committees before final approval.

That distinction is politically important because members of Congress have increasingly sought greater oversight of U.S. military assistance to Israel.

Humanitarian Concerns Return to the Forefront

The proposed sale is likely to revive the debate in Washington over how Israel uses American-made weapons in Gaza.

Critics argue that weapons of this size create particular risks when used in densely populated areas.

Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at the International Crisis Group, told The Washington Post that Israel's conduct of the air campaign in Gaza — and, to some extent, in southern Lebanon — raises concerns about how such weapons would be used in populated areas.

He also questioned how Israel defines legitimate military targets.

The administration, however, has not indicated that the proposed transfer is being suspended over those concerns.

The Timing Is Politically Significant

The timing of the proposed arms package is particularly striking.

The United States is currently engaged in a major military confrontation with Iran that has already consumed enormous quantities of American ammunition.

According to a new analysis by the Congressional Budget Office, the Iran war had cost the United States approximately $38 billion through August 1. The CBO estimates that the conflict could cost another $2 billion to $3 billion per month, depending on its intensity.

The costs include replacement of expended munitions, additional flying hours, fuel and other military operations.

The estimate does not include all potential future costs of the conflict.

Five Years to Rebuild Some U.S. Stockpiles

The CBO report also raises a more strategic concern: how quickly the United States can replenish its weapons inventories.

The report found that the rapid use of munitions during the conflict has significantly reduced stocks of certain weapons, particularly missile-defense interceptors.

The CBO estimates that rebuilding some depleted inventories could take at least five years, even if production is increased.

Reuters reported that the depletion has raised questions about Washington's ability to respond simultaneously to other major military crises.

The Pentagon has disputed the characterization that the United States lacks the ammunition necessary to conduct its military operations.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the U.S. military has the supplies required to accomplish the objectives set by the president.

The Iran War Is Also Affecting Energy Prices

The CBO analysis points to another consequence of the conflict: higher energy prices.

The war has disrupted the movement of energy through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important oil-transit routes.

The CBO estimates that the conflict could increase U.S. inflation by approximately 0.5 percentage points during the first quarter of 2027, compared with the pre-war projection.

That adds an economic dimension to the military debate as Washington approaches the 2026 midterm elections.

Concerns About a Second Major Conflict

The depletion of American missile inventories has raised concerns extending far beyond Iran.

The CBO noted that shortages of critical munitions could affect U.S. readiness in the event of another major confrontation.

Among the scenarios frequently discussed in Washington is a potential conflict involving China and Taiwan, which would place enormous demands on American long-range precision weapons and missile-defense systems.

The issue is therefore no longer simply how much the Iran war costs.

It is whether the pace of weapons consumption is changing the strategic balance of the United States itself.

Congress Faces a Difficult Choice

The proposed Israeli arms package is now heading toward a politically sensitive congressional process.

The Trump administration is pressing congressional leaders to approve the sale.

At the same time, Democrats and some Republicans have become increasingly divided over U.S. military support for Israel.

The issue is particularly sensitive because public opinion in the United States has shifted during the Gaza war.

A June Quinnipiac poll cited by Reuters found that 48% of U.S. voters and 66% of Democrats believed Washington was providing too much support to Israel.

The proposed deal could therefore become another major test of the political durability of the U.S.-Israel military relationship.

A Strategic Message to Israel

Beyond the actual weapons, the size of the package sends a broader strategic message.

Brian Finucane told The Washington Post that if the Trump administration's objective is to calm the Middle East, the timing of such a large weapons package is notable.

The transfer, whether intended as such or not, could be interpreted as a vote of confidence in Israel and in its military relationship with Washington.

That message is particularly significant while the United States is simultaneously attempting to manage its confrontation with Iran and prevent the Middle East from descending into an even wider regional war.

Israel's Growing Dependence on American Weapons

The proposed transaction also highlights the continuing importance of the U.S.-Israel defense relationship.

Israel possesses one of the world's most sophisticated air forces and has developed significant domestic weapons-production capabilities.

Nevertheless, American aircraft, precision weapons, interceptors and other systems remain central to Israel's military capabilities.

The new package would reinforce that dependence at a time when Israel is engaged simultaneously on several fronts.