Top House Democrat holds up Trump’s proposed $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel

Rep. Gregory Meeks says the administration has not provided sufficient assurances about how the weapons would be used.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, is withholding his approval of the Trump administration’s proposed $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel. He is citing unresolved concerns about how the weapons could be used. The package includes 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, some of the most powerful conventional munitions in the U.S. arsenal.

According to The Guardian, Meeks said the administration has not proven that the weapons would be used in accordance with U.S. law. The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs. The weapons are being considered amid continuing international scrutiny of Israel’s military operations in Gaza and Lebanon.

“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. I therefore will not clear this sale at this time,” said Meeks.

Rep. Meeks emphasized that his position does not amount to a rejection of Israel’s security needs. Instead, he said Congress has a responsibility to ensure that U.S.-funded weapons are used lawfully and with safeguards for human life. His objection does not, by itself, permanently block the sale. Under the congressional review process, the administration can potentially use an emergency national-security determination to bypass the normal review period, as previously done.

The proposed sale follows several major U.S. weapons transfers to Israel under the Trump administration. AP reported that the Biden administration had previously paused a shipment of 2,000-pound bombs because of concerns about potential mass casualties in Gaza. The Trump administration later lifted that hold. Reuters reported that the administration has continued to pursue large weapons packages for Israel.

Meeks, who has historically supported Israel, said his decision should be understood as a demand for greater accountability rather than a withdrawal of congressional support for Israel’s defense.

“This decision does not diminish congressional support for Israel’s legitimate defense needs. It reflects Congress’s responsibility to ensure that US-funded weapons are used lawfully, responsibly and with meaningful safeguards for human life,” shared Meeks.