In a move that bypasses an informal review process, the Trump administration has notified Congress of its intention to proceed with the sale of more than $8 billion in arms to Israel. The notification was sent just days after President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during which he stated that the U.S. would take over the Gaza Strip and transform it into “a Riviera of the Middle East.”
The State Department’s notification to Congress was issued on Friday, February 7, 2025. In addition to formal notification, the Pentagon revealed the sale of 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles worth $660 million and $6.75 billion in bombs and guidance kits. Although artillery shells, as part of a direct commercial sale, did not require a public announcement, the total value of the weapons package amounts to $8.4 billion.
Biden Administration’s Previous Announcement and Congressional Pushback
The arms sale had originally been announced by the Biden administration in January 2025, before being sent for informal review by the House Foreign Affairs and Senate Foreign Relations Committees. The review process allows lawmakers to raise concerns or request additional information. While top Republican lawmakers expressed their approval, Democratic Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the senior Democrat on the House committee, used the review process to seek clarification and additional details on the sales.
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Despite the ongoing review and Meeks’ request for more information, the State Department moved forward with the sale after the typical 20-day informal review period. Lawmakers now have limited recourse, as a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate would be required to block the sale.
Representative Meeks Criticizes Erosion of Congressional Oversight
Representative Meeks, who continues to support Israel’s military needs in the face of regional threats, sharply criticized the Trump administration for what he viewed as a disregard for long-standing congressional practices. He raised concerns about the lack of meaningful documentation and justification for proceeding with the arms transfer. Meeks accused the administration of sidelining Congress and undermining the balance of power between the legislative and executive branches.
This move follows a similar action in 2019 when the Trump administration invoked a national emergency over Iran to bypass Congress and proceed with weapons sales to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, leading to an investigation by the State Department’s inspector general.
Biden Administration’s Similar Use of Emergency Provisions in 2023
While the notification sent Friday did not involve a formal emergency declaration, it mirrors an approach used by the Biden administration in 2023. In that instance, the administration invoked emergency provisions to bypass congressional review for arms sales to Israel.
Additional Sales Under Review
Separate from the $8 billion package, Congress is also reviewing Israel’s request for a license to purchase 5,000 assault rifles from U.S. manufacturers. Further requests for assault rifle licenses could soon be submitted. In the past, the Biden administration had delayed a license request for 24,000 assault rifles to Israel, pending further review.
A Closer Look at Congressional Oversight and U.S. Arms Sales
While the law allows for arms sales to move forward despite congressional objections, the criticism from Meeks highlights growing concerns over the erosion of Congressional oversight in defense and foreign policy decisions. This controversy underscores the ongoing debate about the role of Congress in overseeing foreign military sales, particularly when the stakes involve such significant arms packages.
