President Donald Trump has appointed Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein to oversee the ambitious Golden Dome missile defense program, a project estimated at $175 billion. This initiative aims to establish a robust defense against a wide range of advanced missile threats to the United States.
During a May 20 Oval Office briefing, Trump, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Guetlein, and several Republican senators, declared the approval of the Golden Dome's architecture. The administration anticipates completion within three years. "We will truly be completing the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago, forever ending the missile threat to the American homeland," Trump stated, referencing the Strategic Defense Initiative.
The Golden Dome program is designed to integrate space-based sensors, ground-based interceptors, and sophisticated command-and-control networks to effectively detect, track, and neutralize incoming missiles. Hegseth highlighted its broad scope, stating that Golden Dome will "protect the homeland from cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, hypersonic missiles, drones, whether they’re conventional or nuclear."
Trump confirmed the selection of a state-of-the-art system architecture deploying next-generation technologies across land, sea, and space. While specifics remain undisclosed, he asserted that it "will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term." "Hypersonic missiles, ballistic missiles and advanced cruise missiles, all of them will be knocked out of the air," Trump added.
A $25 billion down payment for Golden Dome is part of a Republican spending bill adding $150 billion to the Pentagon's 2025 budget. This bill faces opposition from Democrats concerned about its cost and potential for escalating global tensions. Trump noted Canada's expressed interest in collaboration. Senator Jim Banks emphasized the program's economic benefits for Indiana, mentioning that Golden Dome "is going to be very good for the defense industry in my state," with L3Harris Technologies in Fort Wayne manufacturing satellite sensor payloads.
In selecting Guetlein, Trump praised his expertise in missile warning technology and defense procurement, emphasizing the need for swift action. Guetlein's experience includes leadership roles at the Space Systems Command, National Reconnaissance Office, and Missile Defense Agency. He's a proponent of integrating AI and commercial technologies into national security.
Guetlein likened the project's scale to the Manhattan Project, stressing the need for national mobilization and cross-agency cooperation. He anticipates organizational challenges as the biggest hurdle.