Top Democrat Slams the Brakes on Trump's $2.8 Billion Bomb Sale to Israel
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, says he won't clear a sale of 40,000 heavy bombs until the administration answers questions about civilian protections.
The top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee is refusing to sign off on a $2.8 billion sale of American bombs to Israel, placing a hold on the transaction and setting up a fresh clash with the Trump administration over arms exports.
Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York said in a statement that "the Trump administration has not provided sufficient assurances that these weapons will be used by the Netanyahu government in accordance with US law and with appropriate protections for civilians," adding, "I therefore will not clear this sale at this time," according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
What's in the Package
The proposed sale includes 40,000 powerful 2,000-pound bombs, funded through the Foreign Military Financing program, in which the U.S. gives Israel taxpayer money that Israel then spends on American-made weapons, Democracy Now reported. As the committee's ranking member, Meeks can place a hold to demand more information, though he cannot unilaterally block the sale outright.
"I WILL NOT CLEAR THIS SALE AT THIS TIME."
That limit matters: Secretary of State Marco Rubio retains the authority to bypass the standard congressional review process by declaring the sale an urgent national security matter, a maneuver the administration has used before. Earlier this year, the State Department announced a separate $7 billion arms sale to Israel after Congress had blocked an earlier package, underscoring how often holds by individual lawmakers get overridden.
Reaction and What's Next
The hold lands amid heightened scrutiny of civilian casualties from heavy munitions in dense urban areas, and follows months of tension between congressional Democrats and the administration over the pace and oversight of arms transfers to Israel. Meeks' office said he is seeking written commitments on end-use monitoring before lifting his objection. The administration has not said whether it will negotiate with Meeks or move to override the hold, and both sides are expected to spend the coming weeks in closed-door talks before any public resolution.