Trump's proposed 'Golden Dome' estimated to cost $1.2 trillion

"The nonpartisan CBO report, published Tuesday, is described as an analysis that reflects "one illustrative approach rather than an estimate of a specific Administration proposal." The futuristic system was ordered by Trump in an executive order during his first week in office. He said then that he expected the system to be "fully operational before the end of my term," which wraps up in January 2029."

"The CBO's estimates are in part based on a lack of details from the Defense Department about what and how many systems will be deployed, "making it impossible to estimate the long term cost" of the Golden Dome system, the report says. The concept for the missile system is at least partly inspired by Israel's multitiered defenses, often collectively referred to as the "Iron Dome," which played a key role in defending it from rocket and missile fire from Iran and allied militant groups as it prosecutes the war on Iran alongside the U.S."

"The U.S. Golden Dome is envisioned to include ground- and space-based capabilities able to detect, intercept and stop missiles at all major stages of a potential attack. Congress has already approved roughly $24 billion for the missile defense initiative through Republicans' massive tax and spending measure signed into law last summer."

""Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery systems," Trump said in his executive order, justifying the need for the missile defense system."

A Golden Dome missile defense program to place weapons in space is estimated to cost $1.2 trillion over 20 years. The Congressional Budget Office analysis reflects one illustrative approach rather than a specific administration proposal. The system was ordered by executive action during the first week of the president’s term, with an expectation of full operation before January 2029. The program is justified by the growing intensity and complexity of threats from next-generation strategic weapons and delivery systems developed by peer and near-peer adversaries. Cost estimates are limited by insufficient details from the Defense Department about what and how many systems will be deployed. The concept draws inspiration from Israel’s multitiered defenses, including Iron Dome, and envisions ground- and space-based capabilities to detect, intercept, and stop missiles at major stages of an attack. Congress has already approved about $24 billion for the initiative.

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