The Pentagon has quietly renamed the Trump administration’s ambitious national missile defense initiative. It was changed from “Iron Dome for America” to “Golden Dome for America,” according to a recent advisory to defense contractors. The shift came to light when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, while discussing programs protected from potential budget cuts, referred to the system as “Golden Dome, or Iron Dome” in a recent video. This initially seemed like a verbal slip, but it has since been confirmed as an official program name change.
“Please note the Department of Defense has renamed this program from ‘Iron Dome for America’ to ‘Golden Dome for America,'” the U.S. Missile Defense Agency stated in a Feb. 24 advisory to contractors. The notice, sent days before a submission deadline, stated that despite the change, the agency would maintain its original file systems. Neither the Department of Defense nor the Missile Defense Agency responded to inquiries about the reasoning behind the name change. A defense official stated that the decision was made by the White House.
Defense News suggested that trademark concerns might be the reason. “Iron Dome” is a registered trademark of Israeli defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, which developed Israel’s Iron Dome system. The American program, inspired by its Israeli counterpart, is designed to operate on a much larger scale, protecting the entire U.S. from advanced missile threats. Space-based sensors are key components, with the executive order directing the exploration of space-based interceptors.
The Missile Defense Agency is working with defense industry partners to assess technological capabilities, with the U.S. Space Force playing a crucial role given the system’s reliance on space technologies. The name change coincides with Hegseth’s efforts to identify $50 billion in potential budget cuts, while protecting critical programs—including the newly renamed Golden Dome.