Overview

• President Trump announced the Golden Dome initiative, modeled after Israel's Iron Dome, to protect the U.S. from missile threats, including space-launched attacks.
• The program envisions a multi-layered system combining terrestrial and space-based technologies to intercept missiles in all four phases of flight.
• Trump requested an initial $25 billion appropriation from Congress, but the program faces legislative resistance and long-term costs estimated to exceed $500 billion over 20 years.
• General Michael Guetlein of the U.S. Space Force has been appointed to oversee the development of the project, which remains in the conceptual phase without secured funding.
• China and Russia have criticized the initiative, warning it could destabilize global security and accelerate a space arms race.