Bad news, everyone!

President Trump bypassed congressional review to approve military sales totaling more than $8.6 billion to four Middle East countries including Israel. The sale includes APKWS (Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System) for Israel at $992.4 million. The Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to Israel and it is in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act. 

Secretary Rubio also announced that in addition to the sale of the APKWS, non-major defense equipment items will also be included: test support equipment; other support equipment; technical data; spare and repair parts; publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; transportation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. (Source: U.S. Department of State Foreign Military Sales Congressional Notification "Israel - Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System," May 1, 2026)

Trump bypasses Congress to approve $8.6bn in Middle East arms sales, including to Israel