The Golden Dome initiative, a project envisioned by President Trump, is facing significant headwinds. Senior U.S. Space Force leaders have confirmed that the ambitious missile defense plan remains in its early planning stages, with subsequent steps to be guided by the White House. Early cost estimates are considered drastically low by General Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations, who stated on May 15th at a Politico event, “We’re still in the early planning of it, trying to think about it at a high level.”
General Saltzman highlighted the program's unprecedented complexity, explaining, “You don’t buy Golden Dome. You orchestrate a program that includes a lot of programs that you have to stitch together in very technical ways.” He expressed skepticism about cost estimates, stating, “I’ve been 34 years in this business, and I’ve never seen an early estimate that was too high.” He warned of potential cost increases due to the complex nature of the program and the lack of a market to drive down costs.
Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) offered a far more alarming prediction, suggesting at a Washington Times industry conference that the final cost could reach “trillions of dollars.” Lieutenant General Shawn Bratton, the Space Force’s deputy chief of operations, indicated that a clearer picture of the costs would emerge with the Pentagon’s fiscal year 2026 budget request. He acknowledged that initial budget allocations were incomplete, stating, “Did we get everything right? Certainly we didn’t.”
A crucial element of Golden Dome involves space-based interceptors. Lieutenant General Bratton identified this as a major technological hurdle, describing it as a “really hard thing to do… and we’re gonna do it or figure it out.” Currently, a proposed Republican spending bill includes approximately $25 billion for the initiative, adding to concerns about the project’s overall cost and strategic implications.
Opposition exists among Democratic lawmakers. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) voiced concerns at the Politico event, stating, “Golden Dome upsets the concept of deterrence, and we are not sure it’s going to work.” Industry experts like retired Lieutenant General Chris Bogdan warn that traditional Pentagon procurement processes could hinder the project. He stated, “I can absolutely guarantee you that if the Department of Defense tries to do this using the 5000 regulations and policies and the JCIDS process, it will fail.”
Booz Allen Hamilton’s proposed “Brilliant Swarms” concept, involving a network of AI-powered satellites, is a potential solution. Bogdan explained in a SpaceNews interview that this would address gaps in existing missile defense systems. “The key to Golden Dome is taking the current ground-based missile defense system and filling the gaps with new systems,” he said. The speed of development is critical, with Bogdan emphasizing that any solution needs to demonstrate capabilities within three to four years.