WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced the launch of a $175 billion missile defense initiative dubbed the “Golden Dome”, a sweeping plan to shield the United States from aerial and space-based threats. If completed, the project would mark one of the largest peacetime defense undertakings in U.S. history.
Trump, speaking from the Oval Office alongside Space Force General Michael Guetlein and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, said the project would be fully operational within three years and would leverage next-generation technology to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, cruise missiles, and drones — even those launched from space.
“Once fully constructed, the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world and even if they are launched from space,” Trump said.
A Modern “Star Wars” Reboot?
The ambitious defense plan evokes comparisons to President Ronald Reagan’s 1980s Strategic Defense Initiative — often referred to as the “Star Wars” program — which aimed to build a space-based missile defense system. That initiative ultimately stalled due to technological limitations and high costs.
But Trump and his defense team insist this time is different.
“The technology wasn’t there in Reagan’s time. Now it is,” said Hegseth, defending the feasibility of the program. “We can now protect the homeland from conventional and nuclear threats — whether they come from hypersonic missiles, drones, or ballistic weapons.”
What Will the Golden Dome Do?
Led by Gen. Michael Guetlein, vice chief of space operations, the Golden Dome would integrate existing missile defense systems with a new layer of space-based interceptors. It aims to create a dome-like barrier over the continental U.S. capable of neutralizing threats in their early flight phases.
Inspired in part by Israel’s Iron Dome, which Trump praised after its successful interception of hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles in 2024, the U.S. version would expand defensive capabilities far beyond what is currently deployed.
“This design will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term,” Trump said.
However, experts are skeptical about the timeline and scope.
Can It Be Done in Three Years?
Missile defense expert Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies said the U.S. is overdue for enhanced air and missile defense systems but cast doubt on Trump’s timeline.
“The truth is, we’re pretty vulnerable,” Karako said. “But developing a full space-based interceptor network in three years is going to be a major challenge, no matter the budget.”
Karako noted that current U.S. systems are primarily designed to counter intercontinental ballistic missiles from rogue states like North Korea, but the growing threat from drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonics requires a more layered approach.
Funding and Congressional Support
On Capitol Hill, the proposal has already begun to stir partisan reactions. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, signaled strong GOP support, promising to include a $25 billion “down payment” in the next defense spending bill.
Democrats, however, are pressing for clarity. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), the committee’s top Democrat, said the administration’s budget request included $113 billion without clearly defining what deliverables are expected and when.
“That’s essentially a slush fund at this point,” Reed said, questioning the lack of detail in the initial proposal.
Trump’s Executive Order and Party Platform
Trump’s push for a national missile shield began in earnest during his campaign rallies, where he frequently praised Israel’s Iron Dome. The proposal was so well received that Republicans included a U.S. missile defense system in their 2024 platform. In January 2025, Trump signed an executive order tasking Hegseth and the Defense Department with making it a reality.
“The threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States,” Trump wrote in the Jan. 27 order.
According to Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the Defense Department has assembled a team of top scientists, engineers, and defense strategists to evaluate the quickest and most effective path forward.
What’s Still Unknown?
Many details remain unclear. For instance, the Pentagon has not disclosed how many interceptors will be deployed, what technologies will be prioritized, or how the system will be integrated with existing missile defense assets, such as THAAD, Ground-Based Midcourse Defense, and Aegis.
There is also concern that the program could divert funds from other essential modernization efforts, like the Air Force’s replacement of its 1970s-era intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Hegseth acknowledged these concerns, noting that “Golden Dome will be fielded in phases, prioritizing defense where the threat is greatest.”
According to the Congressional Budget Office, a full-scale space-based missile defense system could cost between $161 billion and $542 billion over 20 years. The lower estimate reflects recent reductions in the cost of launch services, a major barrier in past decades.
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