Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’ Plan: Key Details and Concerns
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is moving forward with an ambitious and costly national missile defense system, with the goal of having it operational before his term ends.
The President, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Space Force Vice Chief of Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein, unveiled the “Golden Dome,” a missile, satellite, and sensor defense system. Named in a similar vein to his and mirroring Israel’s U.S.-funded “Iron Dome,” Trump has put Guetlein in charge of leading this new initiative.
If it proceeds according to the current plans, the “Golden Dome” would represent the first instance of the U.S. deploying weaponry in space.
Trump, who advocated for an American Iron Dome during his campaign, is not the first president to suggest such a system. Ronald Reagan proposed a space-based defense system (dubbed “Star Wars”) in 1983, which was ultimately unrealized due to financial, political, and technological hurdles.
“Once fully operational, the Golden Dome will be able to intercept missiles regardless of their launch location, even from space,” Trump stated. “We will truly complete the work President Reagan began 40 years ago, permanently eliminating the missile threat to the American homeland.”
Here’s what you should know.
What would the Golden Dome look like?
While standing in front of posters illustrating a literal dome surrounding the U.S., Trump offered few specific details regarding the exact configuration of his proposed “Golden Dome.” However, it is understood to be a network of sensors and missile interceptors situated both on the ground and in space.
Hegseth stated that the system would defend the U.S. against “cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they are conventional or nuclear.” According to an outlining the President’s expectations from January, the system is designed to intercept missiles during all four phases of an attack: pre-launch, early flight, midcourse flight, and descent toward a target.
Who will build the Golden Dome?
In April, it was reported that SpaceX, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk, along with software company Palantir and drone manufacturer Anduril, were leading contenders to secure the contract for developing the “Golden Dome.” Citing anonymous sources, the report indicated that the three companies have recently met with high-ranking officials from the Trump Administration and the Pentagon to present a plan for constructing and launching between 400 and over 1,000 satellites worldwide for missile detection and tracking. The report also mentioned that over 180 companies have shown interest in developing and building the “Golden Dome.”
The reported that following Trump’s January directive, the Pentagon has been evaluating program options based on cost and scale, considering the quantity of satellites, sensors, and space-based interceptors to be procured. The AP indicated that the Trump Administration had selected a mid-range option.
How much would the Golden Dome cost?
The “Golden Dome” will likely require considerably more funding than Israel’s Iron Dome. The nonpartisan estimated the production cost of each Iron Dome battery at approximately $100 million, with 10 batteries in total. The U.S., being over 400 times larger than Israel (roughly the size of New Jersey), contributes to the increased cost.
Trump stated in his announcement that the project is projected to cost $175 billion over the next three years, with $25 billion allocated for initial costs in his tax spending megabill. Earlier this month, the nonpartisan indicated that the overall cost of a space-based interceptor system could fluctuate depending on future launch expenses. The CBO estimated that the total expenditure for deploying and operating such a system over 20 years could range from $161 billion to $831 billion in 2025 dollars.
What are other concerns about the Golden Dome?
The proposal has encountered significant opposition from lawmakers and analysts, citing concerns ranging from expenses to capabilities.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D, Mass.) and Rep. Greg Casar (D, Texas) are leading a group of 42 members of Congress into the project’s awarding process, including Musk’s reported involvement.
In a , Sen. Angus King (I, Maine) also questioned defense officials regarding the Dome’s ability to counter attacks, specifically asking if such a system “could deny a substantial missile attack from Russia or China.”
Even Republican Senator Tim Sheehy of Montana suggested that the system’s construction costs could reach “trillions.”
Critics of the “Golden Dome” have also voiced concerns about , potentially prompting military rivals like Russia and China to enhance their arsenals to maintain a credible deterrent.
When questioned about criticisms of the proposal, Trump simply responded, “Well, they’re wrong. It’s about as close to perfect as you can get in terms of actual production.”
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