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In a bold revival of Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" vision, President Donald Trump has unveiled the "Golden Dome" missile defense initiative, a project he claims will permanently shield the United States from hostile missile attacks. With a price tag of $175 billion and a proposed timeline ending by January 2029, the program marks a strategic escalation in Washington's defense posture, particularly toward threats from China and Russia.
At the White House on Tuesday, Trump appointed Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein to lead the effort. "We will truly be completing the job that President Reagan started 40 years ago," Trump said. He emphasized the system's aim to eliminate threats from hypersonic missiles, drones, cruise missiles, and even weapons launched from space. Canada, according to the president, has also expressed interest in joining the initiative, signaling potential multilateral security cooperation.
The House GOP has proposed an initial $25 billion allocation under the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." Specific funding includes $7.2 billion for military space-based sensors and $5.6 billion for intercept technologies during missile boost phases. Another $2.4 billion is earmarked for non-kinetic defense measures, while $2.2 billion targets hypersonic systems development.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised the initiative, calling it a fulfillment of Reagan's vision. "The technology wasn't there back then. Now it is," he noted. Guetlein, with a background in space defense systems, is expected to spearhead the integration of satellite networks possibly numbering in the hundreds.
Despite enthusiasm from Republican lawmakers, who foresee economic benefits in states like Indiana, Georgia, Alaska, and Florida, the plan faces skepticism. Democrats have raised questions about the scale, cost, and potential involvement of private defense contractors such as Palantir, Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Anduril. The lack of detailed operational benchmarks has also fueled uncertainty.
Historically, America's missile defenses have struggled with consistency. The current Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system has a success rate of just 57% from 1997 to 2023, per the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance. The Pentagon has acknowledged its limitations, stating in its 2022 Missile Defense Review that GMD "is neither intended for, nor capable of" countering a large-scale assault from Russia or China.
Trump's Golden Dome seeks to change that narrative. However, critics warn that even advanced satellite systems might falter in real-world nuclear conflict scenarios. As Washington pushes forward, the true test will be whether vision and technology can finally converge to deliver a viable shield, one that fulfills promises made decades ago.
