State Department announces $7B arms sale to Israel after Congress blocked initial deal
The Trump administration announced a $7 billion arms sale to Israel, including munitions and missiles, just days after Congress blocked an initial deal.
The State Department said Friday that it approved $6.75 billion in munitions, guidance kits, fuzes and munitions support, including 2,166 GBU-39/B small-diameter bombs, for sale to Israel. In the other part of the package, the U.S. is sending 3,000 Hellfire missiles and other equipment at the estimated cost of $660 million.
The deliveries of the missiles are slated to start in 2028.
“The proposed sale improves Israel's capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serves as a deterrent to regional threats,” the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in the press release. “Israel already has these weapons in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”
The arms sales came just two days after Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Washington and held a joint press conference with President Trump. The deal marks the first multi-billion arms sale to Israel under the current administration.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), the ranking member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the Trump administration for reportedly bypassing Congress and instantly proceeding with the weapons sale.
“Earlier today, the Trump Administration informed me that it would abrogate Congressional oversight and years of standing practice and immediately notify billions of dollars in arms sales,” Meeks said in a statement on Friday. “This move is yet another repudiation by Donald Trump of Congress’ rightful and legitimate oversight prerogative.”
The top four legislators on both the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee can pause arms sales to U.S. allies if they are valued over a certain amount.
Congress put a hold on a $1 billion weapons package to Israel earlier this week, which reportedly included 4,700 1,000-pound bombs and Caterpillar’s armored bulldozers. After the weapons transfer was halted, Meeks said he would approve the request when he is comfortable with the responses he ask of the current administration.
“This is not a situation — Biden, especially Trump — where a king comes in and says, ‘This is what I want,’ and you just do it automatically," the New York Democrat told The Hill, adding, "And in this case, because Prime Minister Netanyahu is here, you want to make it look like something."
“No. I’m going to do the job that I took an oath to do," he continued. "And what I have done, and continue to do, on a responsible manner — of reviewing … when I get my questions answered, then I’m fine."
Topics
-
Federal judge temporarily blocks DOGE from accessing sensitive Treasury Department payment systems
A federal judge on Saturday temporarily blocked Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, employees from accessing a sensitive Treasury Department system.NBC News - 2h -
Congress must prevent a mass-amnesty for COVID fraud
Don't give criminals and fraudsters a “get out of jail free” card for COVID fraud.The Hill - 2h -
Judge blocks Musk team access to Treasury Department records
Nineteen state attorneys general sued the Trump administration after the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was given access.BBC News - 6h -
Ryan Day’s New Ohio State Deal Includes $80.5M Buyout
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day had his contract extended through the 2031 season with a salary increase that averages $12.5 million in annual compensation, the school announced on Thursday. The ...Yahoo Sports - 1d -
Capitol Police report surge in threats against members of Congress in 2024
Politico - 3d -
Israel begins mass release of prisoners after Gaza hostages freed
Yahoo News - 5h -
White leads Omaha against North Dakota State after 24-point game
North Dakota State Bison (17-8, 6-4 Summit League) at Omaha Mavericks (15-10, 9-1 Summit League) Omaha, Nebraska; Saturday, 2:05 p.m. EST BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Bison -1.5; over/under is 151.5 ...ABC News - 7h -
Judge won’t block DOGE from accessing Labor Department systems
A federal judge Friday evening refused to block the Labor Department from giving Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) access to confidential systems or firing employees for ...The Hill - 14h -
Family files lawsuit seeking to halt sales of Galaxy Gas and other nitrous oxide after woman's death
Nitrous oxide sold in colorful tanks with candy-like flavors that consumers are inhaling to get high is creating a “veritable national health crisis,” a lawsuit says.NBC News - 17h
More from The Hill
-
Trump questions whether Time Magazine 'still in business' after Musk cover reveal
President Trump weighed in on Time Magazine's reveal of a cover featuring tech billionaire Elon Musk, seemingly mocking the outlet that named him its "Person of the Year" in 2024. Asked on Friday ...The Hill - 35m -
GOP gains in voter registration raise red flags for Democrats
Republican gains in voter registration are raising red flags for Democrats in key states, underscoring the inroads the GOP made across the country in 2024. Active registered Republicans now ...The Hill - 48m -
How Trump, Musk and Bezos could preserve humanity from an asteroid strike
At the moment, humanity has all of its eggs in the planet Earth basket.The Hill - 48m -
Donalds on rumored Florida gubernatorial bid: ‘We’ll see what happens’
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) teased Friday that he may throw his hat into the ring to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). “We’ll see what happens,” he told fellow guest Puck's Tara Palmeri ...The Hill - 1h -
How much is the Super Bowl bonus pay? Here's what winning (and losing) players make
Win or lose on Sunday, players on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will come home with a sizable bonus check.The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Trump questions whether Time Magazine 'still in business' after Musk cover reveal
President Trump weighed in on Time Magazine's reveal of a cover featuring tech billionaire Elon Musk, seemingly mocking the outlet that named him its "Person of the Year" in 2024. Asked on Friday ...The Hill - 35m -
GOP gains in voter registration raise red flags for Democrats
Republican gains in voter registration are raising red flags for Democrats in key states, underscoring the inroads the GOP made across the country in 2024. Active registered Republicans now ...The Hill - 48m -
How Trump, Musk and Bezos could preserve humanity from an asteroid strike
At the moment, humanity has all of its eggs in the planet Earth basket.The Hill - 48m -
Donalds on rumored Florida gubernatorial bid: ‘We’ll see what happens’
Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) teased Friday that he may throw his hat into the ring to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). “We’ll see what happens,” he told fellow guest Puck's Tara Palmeri ...The Hill - 1h -
How much is the Super Bowl bonus pay? Here's what winning (and losing) players make
Win or lose on Sunday, players on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles will come home with a sizable bonus check.The Hill - 1h