WASHINGTON — September 16, 2026 — The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion munitions package for Israel that includes 40,000 bombs weighing 2,000 pounds each, along with 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads, according to U.S. officials cited by The Washington Post .
The proposed package has been informally communicated to the relevant congressional committees as part of the review process for major U.S. arms sales. The State Department has not formally confirmed the transaction, saying it does not comment on proposed foreign military sales before they are formally notified to Congress.
What the Package Includes
The package includes two types of 2,000-pound bombs:
- 20,000 MK-84 general-purpose bombs
- 20,000 BLU-117 bombs
- 20,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads
The MK-84 and BLU-117 account for the 40,000 bombs in the package. The I-2000 Penetrator warheads are listed separately.
The MK-84 is a 2,000-pound conventional bomb designed for air-to-ground use. The Washington Post described it as one of the most destructive conventional munitions in Western arsenals, with the ability to damage thick concrete and metal structures.
The BLU-117 is a 2,000-pound-class bomb body based on the MK-84 design and has a thermal protective coating intended to make it safer for certain naval storage conditions.
The I-2000 Penetrator is designed for use against hardened structures and underground targets.
Financing and Congressional Review
The proposed transaction would be financed through the U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF) mechanism. Under this system, U.S. funding is provided to Israel for the purchase of American-made defense equipment.
Congressional committees have received an informal notification, but the package has not yet completed the formal congressional notification process. A formal notification would begin the statutory review period under U.S. arms-export rules.
A senior Trump administration official said that foreign arms sales are moving through the appropriate process but declined to comment on pending transactions. The Israeli Embassy also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
If completed, the package would be larger than previous U.S. transfers of 2,000-pound munitions to Israel in recent years. The Washington Post reported that an earlier 2025 sale was valued at about $2.04 billion and included more than 35,500 comparable bomb bodies.
Reversal of Earlier Restrictions
The proposed sale follows a previous U.S. decision to pause the delivery of 2,000-pound bombs to Israel.
In 2024, the Biden administration paused a shipment of such bombs because of concerns over their potential use in densely populated areas of Gaza. After President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025, the administration lifted that hold and released the previously withheld munitions.
Israel has used 2,000-pound bombs in operations in Gaza and Lebanon, according to Reuters and other reports, bringing scrutiny from rights experts over their use in densely populated areas.
Large-Scale Munitions Requirement
The proposed package comes after years of intensive military operations involving Israel and follows several previous U.S. weapons transfers.
Because of the size of the order, the proposed transaction represents a significant addition to Israel's inventory of heavy aerial munitions. The package is also being considered while the United States faces broader demands on its own munitions stocks, according to recent reporting.
The proposed $2.8 billion sale remains subject to the formal U.S. arms-sale process. Its final approval, congressional review and delivery timeline have not been publicly established.
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