Trump plans to send $8 billion in weapons to Israel to bypass lawmakers

The State Department has given Congress a formal notice that it plans to bypass the ongoing informal review process in a House committee to bypass the sale of more than $8 billion in weapons to Israel.

The move comes days after President Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the US would “take over” the devastated Gaza Strip and turn it into a “Middle Eastern Riviera.”

The State Department officially notified Congress of its intent on Friday. That same day, the Pentagon released two news releases. One said it was being sold to Israel to 3,000 Hellfire air missiles worth $660 million, while the other said it sent a $6.755 billion bomb and guidance kit. The Pentagon did not issue a news release regarding the sale of shells that did not require the division to issue a detailed statement as a direct commercial sale. American officials also included additional bombs. Together, all sales are worth $8.4 billion.

The Biden administration announced the $8 billion sale in early January, then sent the entire package to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee for informal review. In the process, lawmakers can ask detailed questions about the sale before deciding whether to approve detailed questions about the sale with the State Department.

Two Republican members on the committee gave approval and the Democratic senators ultimately did, but New York president Gregory W. Meek, the committee's top Democrat, used the review process. I decided to ask more questions.

The State Department has moved the package forward after placing the typical time granted to senior lawmakers in an informal review for over 20 days of unofficial review. Normal unofficial review times vary by partner country.

Sales will almost certainly continue unhindered, as Congress will need to collect two-thirds of votes in both houses to suspend the order.

Following the announcement that sales will move forward despite his hold, Meeks decided to proceed with the transfer of weapons, keenly criticizing what he characterized as erosion of a long-standing precedent. in accusing the Trump administration of watching Congress.

“I continue to support Israel's important military needs as Israel faces threats in various regions,” Meeks said in a statement. However, his support was made clear, but not unconditional. He has worked in what he described as “close consultations” with administrative officials over sales, raising many concerns. The administration failed to provide meaningful documentation or justification for its decision, he said.

The administration's move to carry out sales was legal, but Meeks said it “showed it was blatantly ignoring the privileges of Congress over the years.” He argued that it was a bureaucratic little, a fundamental challenge to the balance of power among comparable branches of government.

In 2019, during his first administration, Trump declared a “emergency” against Iran, moving forward with then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sending arms to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Ask questions about your arms during the initial review process. Pompeo's move led to an investigation by State Department inspectors.

Friday's notice was sent without an emergency declaration. In 2023, the Biden administration used a similar mechanism to avoid Congressional oversight for arms sales to Israel by invoking the same emergency clause.

Separate from the $8 billion package, Congress is considering Israel's demand for a license to purchase 5,000 assault rifles from American gun manufacturers. The State Department was able to immediately submit a request for an assault rifle license to Congress for an informal review. During the Biden administration, the State Department held a license to allow Israel to purchase 24,000 US-made assault rifles. In direct commercial sales, foreign countries are seeking a license from the State Department to purchase arms from the company.