Bunker Buster Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Introduced
Summary
Authorizes targeted U.S. support to help Israel prepare to destroy underground nuclear and weapons-production infrastructure. This authority applies when the President certifies the action is vital to U.S. national security and specified conditions are met. Support falls into four areas: construction, storage, training, and joint research and development.
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- Authorizes construction of Israeli infrastructure to host large ordnance systems and MOP-carrying aircraft, including extended runways, basing options, and munitions storage.
- Allows U.S. storage of the Massive Ordnance Penetrator or related munitions in Israel and, if narrow conditions tied to Iran’s NPT safeguards or IAEA access are met, permits transfer of custody to Israel. Any Israeli use would require nondelegable presidential approval through the Secretary of Defense.
- Authorizes training of Israeli personnel and joint U.S.-Israel R&D to improve ordnance and develop Israeli capacity to destroy underground targets, including Hezbollah rocket facilities and underground Iranian nuclear sites. The Act also requires presidential certifications to Congress and expressly does not authorize the use of military force against Iran.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
U.S. help for Israeli bunker-busters
If enacted, the President could, at Israel’s request, approve building runways, bases, and storage in Israel for very large bunker‑busting bombs. The President would first have to certify to Congress that the actions are vital to U.S. national security and meet the Act’s conditions. The U.S. could store these munitions in Israel for U.S. use and train Israeli crews. The U.S. and Israel could do joint research to defeat underground sites, including Hezbollah rocket facilities and Iranian nuclear bunkers. Transfer of these munitions to Israeli custody would be allowed only if extra legal conditions are met.
No authorization to use force on Iran
The bill would state that nothing in it authorizes U.S. military force against Iran. Help, training, storage, and R&D would not serve as a legal OK to start a war.
Strict rules to transfer bunker-buster bombs
If enacted, the President could transfer custody of bunker‑buster bombs to Israel only after four findings. First, Iran must be out of nuclear safeguards compliance or cut IAEA access in a harmful way. Second, the transfer must be vital to U.S. national security. Third, Israel must have no other way to destroy the underground nuclear sites. Fourth, a dual‑key control must require presidential approval, through the Secretary of Defense, before any Israeli use. This approval could not be delegated further. The President would have to certify these findings to Congress.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17]
NY • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov