A new analysis estimates President Donald Trump’s proposed “Golden Dome” missile defense system will cost $1.2 trillion over 20 years, far exceeding the initial $175 billion price tag.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report reveals the hefty sum, which is based on the lack of details from the Defense Department about the system’s scope and deployment.
Golden Dome Missile Defense
The system, ordered by Trump in an executive order, aims to put weapons in space to detect, intercept, and stop missiles at all stages of a potential attack, drawing inspiration from Israel’s “Iron Dome” defenses.
Congress has already approved $24 billion for the initiative, with Gen. Michael A. Guetlein, director of the Golden Dome project, testifying that the project is “laser focused on affordability” despite estimates suggesting high costs.
The CBO’s estimates are in part based on the space-based components of the Golden Dome, which could cost as much as $542 billion over the next 20 years, according to last year’s report.
Reactions and Implications
Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., criticized the project as a “massive giveaway to defense contractors paid for entirely by working Americans,” while the president has justified the need for the system, citing the increasing threat from next-generation strategic weapons.
The estimated cost has sparked concerns about the financial burden on taxpayers, with the Golden Dome system’s affordability and effectiveness under scrutiny as the project moves forward.
