Trump Taps 'Golden Dome' Chief as House GOP Advances $25 Billion for Missile-Defense Initiative

WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, President Trump appointed General Michael Guetlein from the Space Force to head up his "Golden Dome" initiative aimed at enhancing and integrating U.S. missile defense systems. Meanwhile, Republican members of the House have proposed allocating $25 billion towards this effort within the newest draft of what they're calling the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act."

Trump said the plan would make good on Ronald Reagan’s “Star Wars” project in the 1980s to protect America from incoming nuclear missiles.

"We will genuinely finish the task that President Reagan initiated 40 years ago, putting an end to the missile threats against the American homeland once and for all," Trump stated from the Oval Office.

"The success rate is almost exactly 100%, which is astounding when you consider it involves intercepting projectiles mid-air," he stated, seemingly alluding to the THAAD missile tests. These trials have proven effective in taking down medium-range ballistic missiles but not nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) originating from nations like Russia, China, and North Korea.

Canada has reached out to us, expressing their desire to join. We will be discussing this with them," Trump stated, accompanied by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Guetlein. "They also seek protection. As always, we assist Canada.

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The president stated that the new initiative will be completed "around three years from now" before he departs from his position.

The "Golden Dome" moniker is inspired by Israel's U.S.-funded "Iron Dome," which boasts a high success rate in intercepting short-range rockets launched by nearby militant organizations.

"Upon completion, the Golden Dome will be able to shoot down missiles regardless of whether they are fired from opposite ends of the globe or even from outer space. We will possess the finest system imaginable," Trump pledged.

We assisted Israel with their project, which turned out highly successful, and since then, our technology has progressed significantly further… including hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles, and sophisticated cruise missiles, none of which can evade interception.

Hegseth praised the program.

“President Reagan 40 years ago cast the vision for it. The technology wasn’t there now it is, and you’re following through, saying we will protect the homeland from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they’re conventional or nuclear.”

The pending legislation, whose major provisions include Trump’s campaign pledges to cut taxes on tips, overtime and Social Security benefits, allocates various funding pools for the project.

The bill includes $7.2 billion for “the development, procurement, and integration of military space-based sensors,” $5.6 billion for “development of space-based and boost phase intercept capabilities,” and $2.4 billion for “the development of military non-kinetic missile defense effects.”

Other funding in the pending bill encompasses $2.2 billion for "speeding up development of hypersonic defense systems" and $2 billion for "military satellites designed to detect airborne targets," along with $1.97 billion for "advanced ground-based missile defense radar systems."

The Golden Dome proposal presents a possible economic boost for major U.S. tech companies involved in defense. Senators Jim Banks from Indiana, Dan Sullivan of Alaska, and Kevin Cramer from North Dakota attended the White House gathering to highlight how this could positively impact industries within their respective states.

American missile defense technology has progressed over time, yet tests have been sparse and frequently ineffective.

The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, which currently represents the primary U.S. anti-intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) defensive technology, achieved an interception success rate of only 57% between 1997 and December 2023. based on information from the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance .

The three latest interception tests — conducted in 2023, 2019, and 2017 — have been successful. However, actual combat situations might diminish the effectiveness of this system. The government also states that it would struggle significantly under a comprehensive nuclear conflict involving either Russia or China.

The Pentagon’s 2022 Missile Defense Review GMD is not designed to counteract or capable of neutralizing the substantial and advanced ICBM, air-launches, or sea-based ballistic missile threats originating from Russia and China. Strategic deterrence remains the primary approach used by the United States against these threats.

In 2020, the U.S. government allocated $53 billion for the GMD system, with an additional $10 billion anticipated by 2025. as per the US Government Accountability Office .

Various new technologies have demonstrated potential in combating ICBMs, which could devastate America should a nuclear conflict arise.

The Pentagon in In 2020, it was announced that a test would take place. The test of the Standard Missile-3 (SM-3) Block IIA projectile successfully intercepted an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

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