Donald Trump Gives Timeline, Price for 'Golden Dome for America
By Gabe Whisnant
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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday his administration's preferred concept for the Golden Dome missile defense program — a sprawling $175 billion initiative that would mark the first time the United States deploys weapons in space. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said he expects the system to be "fully operational before the end of my term," which ends in 2029, and claimed it would be capable of intercepting missiles "even if they are launched from space."
While the president projected confidence, a U.S. official familiar with the program cautioned that it's more likely the Golden Dome may only have initial capabilities by the end of Trump's term, not full operational readiness. Nonetheless, Trump named Gen. Michael Guetlein, currently the vice chief of Space Force, as the official in charge of overseeing the program's development.
Trump: "Think of it -- you're shooting bullets out of the air. I'm also pleased to report that the one big beautiful bill will include $25 billion for the golden dome to help construction get underway. That's the initial sort of down-posit. We're talking about $175 billion total… pic.twitter.com/T4JelIilYY
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 20, 2025
The Golden Dome system is envisioned as a multi-layered defense grid capable of intercepting missiles during any of the four main phases of an attack: pre-launch, boost phase, midcourse flight, and terminal descent. It would include a mix of ground-based systems and an unprecedented expansion of space-based assets, including interceptors and detection satellites.
For several months, the Pentagon has been exploring multiple options for the program, categorized by cost and scale as medium, high, and "extra high." Trump's team selected the "high" option, which significantly increases the number of satellites and introduces space-based missile interceptors — a first for U.S. defense infrastructure. The selection process and the resulting system design remain largely classified.
Although Trump has requested an initial $25 billion for the Golden Dome in a proposed tax bill currently advancing through Congress, the program faces significant budgetary hurdles. According to a recent estimate from the Congressional Budget Office, just the space-based elements of the program could total $542 billion over the next two decades.
Military leaders have consistently warned that nations like China and Russia are developing advanced missile technologies that outpace existing U.S. defenses. Golden Dome is intended to close that gap.
Trump Golden Dome
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May20, 2025, in Washington. Associated Press
"These space-based weapons represent new and emerging requirements for missions that have never before been accomplished by military space organizations," Gen. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, told lawmakers during a congressional hearing Tuesday.
China and Russia have already deployed offensive space systems capable of disabling or destroying U.S. satellites, which increases the urgency for defensive countermeasures. However, the Golden Dome remains in its early stages. "The program is still in the conceptual stage," Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told senators, acknowledging that the foundational planning documents are still being drafted.
Typically, the Pentagon defines a program's requirements before selecting a concept. In this case, the reverse is occurring — Trump has selected a concept before full operational criteria have been established. U.S. Northern Command and the Pentagon are still developing the initial capabilities document, which will outline the specific operational goals of Golden Dome.
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While the U.S. already fields systems like the Patriot missile batteries and a global network of missile detection satellites, many of these will likely be integrated into Golden Dome as supporting elements. The broader program, however, represents a major technological and strategic leap into space-based defense — a direction first formalized by Trump in an executive order signed during the initial week of his presidency.
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