Top Democrat puts hold on Trump’s $2.8B weapons sale to Israel

The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee took the rare step Wednesday of publicly announcing a hold on the Trump administration’s $2.8 billion plan to sell 40,000 one-ton bombs to Israel.

Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member of the panel, said in a statement posted to X that he remains firmly committed to Israel’s security and its ability to defend itself, but raised concern about the risk to civilian lives, given the high death tolls throughout Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, and against Hezbollah in Lebanon.

“I therefore will not clear this sale at this time. The decision does not diminish Congressional support for Israel’s legitimate defense needs; it reflects Congress’s responsibility to ensure that U.S.-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly, and with meaningful safeguards for human life.”

Meeks’ decision to publicize his opposition, which generally takes place behind the scenes and with an effort toward compromise, represents Democrats’ frustration with the Trump administration and toward the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The top lawmakers on the House and Senate foreign affairs panels are generally informed by the State Department about a foreign arms sale over a certain dollar amount, and are given the opportunity to exercise an informal “hold” for more information on the arms sale before it goes forward.

The State Department typically respects this hold and works with the member to resolve their concerns. But the Trump administration has previously ignored an objection from Meeks, moving forward on an arms sale package in February 2025 despite the Democrats “hold” on parts of the sale.

The Hill reached out to the State Department for comment.

The weapons package, reported by the Washington Post, includes 40,000 bombs that weigh 2,000 pounds each. These include 20,000 MK-84s and 20,000 BLU-117s. The sale also includes 20,000 I2000 Penetrator warheads, the Post reported.

The MK-84, in particular, is capable of forming a crater 50 feet wide and 36 ft deep and can penetrate up to 15 inches of metal or 11 ft of concrete, and projects “legal fragmentation” to a radius of 400 yards, according to army data.

During Israel’s war in Gaza, the Biden administration paused a shipment of 2,000 pound bombs out of concern for the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians. The New York Times reported in 2023 that Israel’s use of the 2,000 pound bombs posed a pervasive threat to Gaza civilians seeking safety, with the munitions routinely dropped in areas designated for civilians.

While there’s still bipartisan backing of the U.S. and Israel relationship in Congress, that support is waning, in particular among Democrats. When Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) forced a vote on bill text to cut off U.S. military aid to Israel, it received support from 103 Democrats.