Trump's 'Golden Dome' Will Cost $1.2tn And Might Not Stop All-Out Missile Attack

A new report from the U.S. Congressional Budget Office has raised serious concerns about the future of President Donald Trump’s massive “Golden Dome” missile defense project, warning that the system could cost as much as $1.2 trillion over the next 20 years while still failing to fully protect the United States from a large-scale missile attack. The report has intensified debate in Washington over the cost, practicality and military value of one of Trump’s biggest defense initiatives.

The Golden Dome project was introduced by Trump shortly after returning to office in 2025. Inspired partly by Israel’s Iron Dome defense network, the American version is planned as a far larger and more advanced shield designed to detect, track and destroy ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles before they can strike U.S. territory. The system would combine ground-based interceptors, advanced radar systems and thousands of satellites operating in space.

Trump originally claimed the project could be completed within a few years for around $175 billion. However, the Congressional Budget Office now estimates that the real long-term cost could rise to nearly seven times that amount. According to the report, most of the spending would go toward building and maintaining a huge network of about 7,800 space-based interceptor satellites designed to destroy enemy missiles during flight.

Despite the enormous investment, the report warned that the system may still struggle against a full-scale attack from major nuclear powers such as Russia or China. Analysts said the Golden Dome could likely defend against limited missile launches from smaller countries like North Korea, but a massive coordinated strike involving hundreds of advanced missiles could overwhelm the system.

Military experts have also questioned whether current technology is advanced enough to make the project fully effective. Intercepting hypersonic missiles, which travel at extremely high speeds and can change direction during flight, remains one of the biggest technical challenges for modern defense systems. Several defense analysts believe building a reliable shield covering the entire United States would require technology and infrastructure that do not yet exist on a large scale.

The proposal has already become politically controversial inside the United States. Republican leaders close to Trump argue that the growing missile threat from countries such as China, Russia, Iran and North Korea makes the project necessary for national security. Trump has repeatedly said the United States must prepare for “next-generation threats” and protect the country from modern missile warfare.

Democrats and government spending critics, however, argue that the project could become one of the most expensive military programs in American history while mainly benefiting large defense contractors. Senator Jeff Merkley criticized the plan and described it as a huge financial burden for taxpayers. Several major defense companies, including Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and RTX Corporation, are expected to compete for large contracts connected to the system.

The Pentagon has already started early development work on some parts of the Golden Dome program. Reports show the U.S. Space Force awarded billions of dollars in contracts for research into space-based missile interception systems. Trump has pushed for the system to become operational before the end of his current term, although many experts believe the timeline is unrealistic because of the technical and financial challenges involved.

Security analysts also warn that the project could increase tensions with rival countries and possibly trigger a new global arms race in space. Russia and China have previously criticized U.S. plans for space-based weapons systems and argued such projects could destabilize international security. Some experts fear countries may respond by building more advanced missiles or anti-satellite weapons designed to defeat the Golden Dome system.