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The Hill
a day ago
- Business
- The Hill
Golden Dome set to get another $13B as project leader takes helm
President Trump's Golden Dome missile defense project officially has a new team lead and gained potentially another $13 billion, setting the effort on a race to hit its ambitious three-year timeline. The office will be led by Vice Chief of Space Operations Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein, unanimously confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as the first Golden Dome for America Direct Reporting Program Manager, according to a Pentagon statement released Tuesday. Guetlein, who Trump named as the Golden Dome lead in May, will be 'responsible for developing the Golden Dome portfolio of capabilities,' and report directly to Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg. 'Golden Dome for America requires a whole-of-nation response to deter and, if necessary, to defeat attacks against the United States,' the Pentagon said in the release. 'We have the technological foundation, national talent, and decisive leadership to advance our nation's defenses. We are proud to stand behind Gen. Mike Guetlein as he takes the helm of this national imperative.' Intended to protect the skies over the continental United States, Golden Dome promises a network of space-based missiles launched from satellites to intercept missiles launched from the ground, an expensive, untested technology. The Trump administration has insisted the project is necessary to protect against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks and will only cost $175 billion. To fund the effort, $24.4 billion was included for the project in the One Big, Beautiful Bill, signed by Trump on July 4. Then on July 17, the House voted to pass the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which includes roughly $13 billion for advanced initiatives to support Golden Dome. But the purported price tag, also announced by Trump in May, is far below estimates from the Congressional Budget Office, which pegged the figure at more than $500 billion over 20 years to develop. Other estimates have placed the cost at $1 trillion. What's more, missile defense experts highly doubt a Golden Dome system as Tump has described can be created in under three years. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) last month called out 'the physics' of Golden Dome, pressing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to seek out viability analysis from scientists instead of defense and space firms. 'This idea, you know, might not be fully baked,' Kelly, an engineer by trade, told Hegseth during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on June 18. 'You've got to go back and take a look at this. . . . You could go down a road here and spend hundreds of billions of dollars of the taxpayers' money, get to the end, and we have a system that is not functional,' Kelly added. In its statement, the Pentagon said Golden Dome would establish partnerships with industry, academia, national labs and other government agencies to rapidly develop and field the system, with an architecture to be developed within the next 60 days.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
China ‘gravely concerned' by Trump Golden Dome plan
China said it is 'gravely concerned' by President Trump's plan for the U.S. to build a multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile defense shield and is encouraging Washington to halt its development. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday that the defense system, which Trump said would take $175 billion to build, will 'exacerbate the risk of turning outer space into a battlefield,' therefore starting an arms race and shake up the international security and arms control 'system.' 'The U.S., by putting itself first and being obsessed with pursuing absolute security, violates the principal diminish the security for all undermines global strategic balance and stability,' Mao said during a press conference. 'China is gravely concerned about this,' he continued. 'We urge the U.S. to give up developing and deploying the global antimissile system at an early date and take concrete actions to enhance strategic mutual trust between countries and safeguard global strategic stability.' Trump announced Tuesday that the missile system will be 'fully operational' in less than three years and that the push will be led by Vice Chief of Space Operations Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein. Canada will also be included in the effort. 'This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term,' the president said Tuesday during an announcement alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. 'So, we'll have it done in about three years.' He added, 'Once fully constructed, Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built.' The commander in chief said Alaska, Florida, Georgia and Indiana will be involved in the major defense project. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
China ‘gravely concerned' by Trump Golden Dome plan
China said it is 'gravely concerned' by President Trump's plan for the U.S. to build a multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile defense shield and is encouraging Washington to halt its development. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday that the defense system, which Trump said would take $175 billion to build, will 'exacerbate the risk of turning outer space into a battlefield,' therefore starting an arms race and shake up the international security and arms control 'system.' 'The US, by putting itself first and being obsessed with pursuing absolute security violates the principal diminish the security for all undermines global strategic balance and stability,' Mao said during a press conference. 'China is gravely concerned about this,' he continued. 'We urge the US to give up developing and deploying the global anti-missile system at an early date and take concrete actions to enhance strategic mutual trust between countries and safeguard global strategic stability.' Trump announced on Tuesday that the missile system will be 'fully operational' in less than three years and that the push will be led by Vice Chief of Space Operations Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein. Canada will also be included in the effort. 'This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term,' the president said Tuesday during an announcement alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. 'So, we'll have it done in about three years.' He added, 'Once fully constructed, Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built.' The commander-in-chief said that Alaska, Florida, Georgia and Indiana will be involved in the major defense project.
The Hill
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump's ambitious plan for Golden Dome
The Big Story President Trump says his ambitious, multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile defense shield would only cost $175 billion to build and be ready in less than three years. © The Hill, Greg Nash His announcement, made Tuesday in the Oval Office, defies earlier predictions for the price tag and timeline to field Golden Dome. Trump said the U.S. had officially selected the architecture for the system, an effort which will be led by Vice Chief of Space Operations Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein. The president also declared it would cost just $175 billion, far below previous estimates to develop, build and field the technology needed for system. In addition, he said it would be completed before his second term ends, in 'two and a half to three years' — an astounding pace. 'This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term. So we'll have it done in about three years,' Trump said. 'Once fully constructed, Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built.' Trump added that Canada will be included in the effort. Golden Dome, first ordered by Trump in January, is poised to receive $25 billion to jump-start the purported missile defense system that would create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming ballistic missiles. But that initial $25 billion, part of the GOP's reconciliation bill, remains uncertain as hard-line GOP conservatives and moderate Republicans on Tuesday continued to hold out on allowing the House to pass the legislation, demanding certain changes be made. Furthermore, $25 billion is just the tip of the iceberg in funding the system, which is estimated to cost the U.S. more than $500 billion over 20 years to develop, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The program's high price tag and advanced technology — much of which has yet to be developed or fielded — has already drawn political scrutiny and questions as to how it will be funded moving forward. It's likely that many early systems involved would come from existing production lines, with L3Harris, Lockheed Martin and Raytheon as potential contractors. Trump also repeatedly said the system will be entirely made in the U.S. Golden Dome also has been criticized as unnecessary, as the U.S. already protects itself from any potential incoming missiles via a network of systems such as radars and ground-based interceptors, the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system and National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System, a short- to medium-range, ground-based air defense system. Asked whether military commanders had requested the system, Trump said he 'suggested it, and they all said, 'We love the idea, sir.'' Read the full report at Welcome to The Hill's Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future: Trump takes foot off ceasefire push in Russia-Ukraine war President Trump stepped back from his demands for an immediate 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine following calls with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, instead suggesting Moscow and Kyiv should start negotiations over what broader peace talks might look like. 5 things to know as Trump rolls out Golden Dome missile defense shield President Trump on Tuesday held a White House event to hype his planned Golden Dome missile defense system, which he estimated would cost some $175 billion and be finished within three years. That timeline is far shorter than what experts have forecast, and they say the price tag could also be far higher. The GOP's 'big, beautiful bill' includes a proposed $25 billion to jump-start the missile defense system. … Senate Republican hints at Trump Qatar jet plans Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) said Monday he's talked to Air Force officials about a plan to use the jet Qatar gifted to President Trump as a helpful transition from the old Boeing 747 jet to the upgraded aircraft. 'If we can show the American people that there was a method and a reason why it is beneficial, in terms of this transition, I think that will help a lot,' Rounds said in an interview on CNN's 'The Source,' sidestepping … On Our Radar Upcoming things we're watching on our beat: In Other News Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Migrants deported to South Sudan in violation of court order, attorneys say Immigration attorneys on Tuesday alleged the Trump administration deported to South Sudan a group of migrants who are not from the war-torn country, in violation of a court order. U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, an appointee of former President Biden who serves in Boston, previously … On Tap Tomorrow Events in and around the defense world: What We're Reading News we've flagged from other outlets: Trending Today Two key stories on The Hill right now: Senate unanimously approves bill to eliminate tax on tips The Senate on Tuesday passed a bill that would eliminate federal taxes on tips, advancing with the help of Democrats a top campaign promise of President … Read more Nearly 80 more Big Lots stores to reopen in June: Here's where More than 100 Big Lots stores have reopened this year. Now, 80 more are preparing to reopen soon. Read more Opinion in The Hill Op-ed related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump outlines 3-year timeline, $175B price tag on ‘Golden Dome'
President Trump on Tuesday announced that his ambitious, multibillion-dollar Golden Dome missile defense shield would only cost $175 billion to build and be 'fully operational' in less than three years, defying earlier predictions for its price tag and timeline to field. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the U.S. had officially selected the architecture for Golden Dome, an effort which will be led by Vice Chief of Space Operations Space Force Gen. Michael Guetlein. The president also declared it would cost just $175 billion, far below previous estimates to develop, build and field the technology needed for system. In addition, he said it would be completed before his second term ends, in 'two and a half to three years,' an astounding pace. 'This design for the Golden Dome will integrate with our existing defense capabilities and should be fully operational before the end of my term. So we'll have it done in about three years,' Trump said. 'Once fully constructed, Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting missiles even if they are launched from other sides of the world, and even if they are launched from space, and we will have the best system ever built.' Trump added that Canada will be included in the effort. 'Canada has called us and they want to be a part of it. So we'll be talking to them, they want to have protection also,' he said. Trump announced the new details of the project while seated at the Resolute Desk with posters on either side of him. One depicted the continental U.S. in gold with a literal Golden Dome surrounding the country and warding off incoming missiles while the other showed a similar image with his quote stating, 'This is a Very Dangerous World. We're going to protect our citizens like never before!' He was accompanied by Guetlein, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and GOP Sens. Dan Sullivan (Alaska), Jim Banks (Indiana), and Kevin Kramer (N.D.), the latter three hailing from states that historically have played a part in missile defense. Golden Dome, first ordered by Trump in January, is poised to receive $25 billion to jump-start the purported missile defense system that would create a network of satellites to detect, track and potentially intercept incoming ballistic missiles. But that initial $25 billion, part of the GOP's reconciliation bill, remains uncertain as hard-line GOP conservatives and moderate Republicans on Tuesday continued to hold out on allowing the House to pass the legislation, demanding certain changes be made. Furthermore, $25 billion is just the tip of the iceberg in funding the system, which is estimated to cost the U.S. more than $500 billion over 20 years to develop, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The program's high price tag and advanced technology — much of which has yet to be developed or fielded — has already drawn political scrutiny and questions as to how it will be funded moving forward. What's more, Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns around the possibility that billionaire and Trump advisor Elon Musk could receive Golden Dome contracts via his company SpaceX, an outcome that would appear to be a conflict of interest given his role in the Trump administration. Asked which companies would be involved in the system's creation, Trump responded that Alaska, Florida, Georgia and Indiana will be a part of the project. Alaska currently houses ground-based interceptors located at Fort Greely and is close to Russia, China and North Korea; Florida is home to several military installations involved in missile testing and development, including the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station; Georgia has several significant Army and Air Force bases; and Indiana produces space satellites at L3Harris Technologies. To reach Trump's ambitious three-year timeline and $175 billion pricetag to build out Golden Dome, it's likely that many early systems involved would come from existing production lines. Banks mentioned L3Harris, while Sullivan said Lockheed Martin and Raytheon were potential contractors. Trump also repeatedly said the system will be entirely made in the U.S. Trump's inspiration for Golden Dome stems from Israel's Iron Dome, a system the small country uses to shoot down short-range rockets and artillery fired from up to 43 miles away. 'We don't have a dome ourselves. We're going to have the greatest dome ever,' Trump said in December 2023 while on the campaign trail, later saying he would 'build an Iron Dome over our country.' But Trump's Golden Dome would need a far more extensive system as Washington's potential threats don't come from short-range missiles, instead coming from intercontinental ballistic missiles fired from countries such as Russia, China, Iran or North Korea. A system to protect against those threats would require a massive number of surveillance satellites and attack satellites to detect and shoot down incoming missiles — 400 to more than 1,000 satellites, Reuters previously reported. The system also has been criticized as unnecessary, as the U.S. already protects itself from any potential incoming long-range missiles via radars and ground-based interceptors located at Fort Greely in Alaska and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Shorter-range missiles would be taken care of by such systems as the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, which was deployed to defend Hawaii when North Korea ramped up its missile testing several years ago. The skies above Washington, D.C., meanwhile, are protected by NASAMS, a short- to medium-range, ground-based air defense system. But when asked whether military commanders had requested the system, Trump said he 'suggested it, and they all said, 'We love the idea, sir.'' 'This is very important for the success and even survival of our country,' Trump said in his opening remarks. 'It's a very evil world out there.' Updated at 6:01 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
