**Amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, President Trump has initiated a massive arms sale to Israel, raising concerns about bypassing standard Congressional reviews, while lawmakers express alarm over diminishing oversight powers.**
**Trump Administration Paves the Way for $8 Billion Arms Deal with Israel, Ignoring Congressional Oversight**
**Trump Administration Paves the Way for $8 Billion Arms Deal with Israel, Ignoring Congressional Oversight**
**As Biden's plans dissolve, Trump fast-tracks controversial arms sales amid tensions.**
February 8, 2025, 3:43 p.m. ET
In a rapid succession of events, the State Department has officially notified Congress of its decision to proceed with over $8 billion in arms sales to Israel, a move that challenges traditional Congressional review procedures. This announcement follows President Trump's recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wherein Trump proposed plans to develop the war-torn Gaza Strip into a luxurious "Riviera of the Middle East."
On Thursday, the Pentagon revealed plans to sell 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to Israel, valued at approximately $660 million, alongside a significant package of bombs and guidance kits worth $6.75 billion. Notably, the State Department opted not to issue a public statement regarding the artillery shells’ sale, categorizing it as a direct commercial transaction.
This arms deal was initially set in motion by the Biden administration in January, which forwarded the package to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for informal review. Although top Republican legislators expressed their approval, the review, which allowed for detailed inquiries, faced pushback from Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the leading Democratic member on the committee.
After more than 20 days of informal scrutiny—typically allotted to lawmakers—the State Department decided to advance the arms sales despite Meeks’ concerns about transparency and oversight. Following this decision, Meeks criticized the erosion of Congressional authority, portraying the Trump administration as dismissive of established norms governing arms transfers.
While acknowledging ongoing support for Israel's defense needs in the face of regional threats, Meeks emphasized that his backing was conditional and underscored frustrations stemming from unanswered queries and a perceived lack of justification regarding the sales' urgency. The administration's actions, although deemed legal, signal an unsettling trend that lawmakers are likely to scrutinize further in the coming days, as they consider their authority in international arms transactions.
Edward Wong, reporting on global affairs, U.S. foreign policy, and the State Department, brings insight into this developing story.
In a rapid succession of events, the State Department has officially notified Congress of its decision to proceed with over $8 billion in arms sales to Israel, a move that challenges traditional Congressional review procedures. This announcement follows President Trump's recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wherein Trump proposed plans to develop the war-torn Gaza Strip into a luxurious "Riviera of the Middle East."
On Thursday, the Pentagon revealed plans to sell 3,000 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to Israel, valued at approximately $660 million, alongside a significant package of bombs and guidance kits worth $6.75 billion. Notably, the State Department opted not to issue a public statement regarding the artillery shells’ sale, categorizing it as a direct commercial transaction.
This arms deal was initially set in motion by the Biden administration in January, which forwarded the package to the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for informal review. Although top Republican legislators expressed their approval, the review, which allowed for detailed inquiries, faced pushback from Representative Gregory W. Meeks, the leading Democratic member on the committee.
After more than 20 days of informal scrutiny—typically allotted to lawmakers—the State Department decided to advance the arms sales despite Meeks’ concerns about transparency and oversight. Following this decision, Meeks criticized the erosion of Congressional authority, portraying the Trump administration as dismissive of established norms governing arms transfers.
While acknowledging ongoing support for Israel's defense needs in the face of regional threats, Meeks emphasized that his backing was conditional and underscored frustrations stemming from unanswered queries and a perceived lack of justification regarding the sales' urgency. The administration's actions, although deemed legal, signal an unsettling trend that lawmakers are likely to scrutinize further in the coming days, as they consider their authority in international arms transactions.
Edward Wong, reporting on global affairs, U.S. foreign policy, and the State Department, brings insight into this developing story.
