Trump announces $500 billion golden dome missile defense program

On May 19, 2025, President Donald Trump outlined his vision for a missile defense system called Golden Dome, during an announcement at the White House. The program aims to protect the United States from threats posed by advanced missile capabilities from nations such as North Korea, China, and Russia. The defense project is characterized as a space-based missile defense system, which is expected to cost over $500 billion over a extended period. Trump indicated that the Golden Dome will be the first U.S. military space-based weapons system, marking a significant shift in U.S. defense strategy. The Pentagon has been actively exploring the Golden Dome project and has submitted various options for its development to the White House. The proposals range from small, medium, to large-scale implementations of the missile defense architecture. The administration's choice, which was likely selected in the past few days, aims to integrate satellite technology for tracking and neutralizing missiles. President Trump is expected to push for Congress to secure initial funding for the project alongside his proposed tax break legislation. Additionally, a part of the budget earmarked for the Golden Dome includes $25 billion yielded from next year’s defense budget. The complexities involved in the project, described by officials as needing a “Manhattan Project-scale effort,” highlight the large-scale network of collaboration required to realize the Golden Dome vision. This would involve multiple government agencies, private contractors, and significant research and development investments to create a functional system capable of intercepting missiles during various stages of their flight paths. Companies including SpaceX, under the leadership of Elon Musk, have expressed interest in participating in the project with proposals centered around the development and launch of a satellite constellation for missile tracking and defense. Despite the ambitious nature of the project, there remains skepticism regarding its feasibility and the financial burden it could place on taxpayers. Military and defense experts note that comparable projects have historically faced challenges in operational effectiveness and procurement processes. As policymakers weigh the future of the Golden Dome missile defense strategy, the urgency of responses to the evolving threats from adversarial missile technology grows, creating pressure on government officials to accelerate the project's development.