"Defense Primer: The Golden Dome for America" Topic

The Golden Dome for America (initially known as the Iron Dome for America) is an initiative of the second Trump Administration to develop an integrated air and missile defense system. President Donald J. Trump introduced the initiative in Executive Order (E.O.) 14186, dated January 27, 2025. Golden Dome is to combine a range of capabilities to create a "system of systems" to protect the United States from "aerial attacks from any foe," according to a May 2025 press release from the Department of Defense (DOD), which is now "using a secondary Department of War designation" under E.O. 14347, dated September 5, 2025. Congress provided $24.4 USD billion toward related efforts through the FY2025 reconciliation law (P.L. 119-21, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act). President Trump has referred to this sum as an initial down payment or deposit toward the system, saying it "should be fully operational before the end of my term."

Congress.gov link: link

Wolfhag

Good. We'll need it, sadly.

Wolfhag— "Golden Dome" is a great slogan, but CRS basically says we don't have the basics: no publicly detailed architecture, timeline, procurement plan, or operational concept.

So we're funding a mission statement before we've seen a design.

Also, the concept quietly shifts U.S. policy from limited defense against rogues/accidents to defending against "any foreign aerial attack"—which effectively means trying to neutralize peer retaliation. That's more a strategy rewrite, rather than a gadget purchase. Finally, the cost story is already a tell: Trump says $175 USDB, CRS flags estimates far higher and cites CBO putting even a "limited" space-interceptor layer at greater than $500 USDB.

If this thing can't be explained in an unclassified reference architecture, it's not "fully operational"—it's a permanent appropriations bonfire with a flag wrapped around it.

I doubt a true ‘full' shield can be had for under multiple Trillions and even then, could be overwhelmed with decoys. A limited shield may be possible at a reasonable cost but given the US added $1.8 USD Trillion to the National Debt in 2025 and is projected to do worse in 2026, where will the money come from?

Non defense discretionary spending in 2025 was $711 USD billion including infrastructure, research, education, homeland security , agriculture, commerce, education, health and non-entitlement social spending.

could be overwhelmed with decoys

Which nobody has deployed, btw, since missile defenses were never broadly deployed. Decoys would be a whole new expensive development cycle for anybody'd missiles.

I doubt this will ever happen. Reagan tries the same thing and it didn't work. Just more wasted money. Where is DOGE when you need it.

Reagan insinuated it, and that and other things actually done, caused the Soviets to try and keep up and wreak their economy.

Musk was probably bidding for contracts on it.

Seems like a silly idea as there are no geographically near countries with the capability to launch such an attack.
The countries that could launch such an attack are aware of the consequences.

The US is not Israel where there is geographic proximity and terrorist organisations willing and able to launch large numbers of small payloads.

Look what happened to Bin Laden after 9/11, what would you hope to achieve against the US and what types of weaponry would you need to achieve it?

Yes, and everyone knew Pearl Harbor was all but immune to attack…

Let's see what dollars Congress will actually throw in this direction when 2026's deficit promises to be worse than 2025. For all the DOGE smoke and mirrors, Federal spending in 2025 was higher than 2024.

Other than a few in the House and fewer in the Senate, nobody on either side seems to genuinely care about the deficit.

" Yes, and everyone knew Pearl Harbor was all but immune to attack…"

It wasn't!! 😱 FDR lied??!! 😱

"Let's see what dollars Congress will actually throw in this direction when 2026's deficit promises to be worse than 2025. For all the DOGE smoke and mirrors, Federal spending in 2025 was higher than 2024."

Come on. When has the Congress of either part not been willing to spend more money? 😏 it's not their money. Besides they can pad their pockets even deeper.

Personally, I would like to see some anti missile defense. Money better spent then much we currently waste it on. Might give us another 25 to 50 years before someone finally releases the Kraken.

With expensive defensive systems, I am always reminded of the Maginot Line, the WW2 Atlantic Wall & the Hindenburg Line in WW1. Lots of money, time & effort expended for little return.

However, I hope our US friends get some benefit for the outlay, if it goes ahead. This could be breakthroughs in technology, a feeling of domestic security and, it should not be forgotten that even if Reagan's 'Star Wars' was a bit of a squib, the psychological impact helped crack the USSR.

Where is William Proxmire when you need him?

Well with the advent of hypersonic missiles and massive use of drone on the battlefield.

Good. We'll need it, sadly.

Agreed … we don't need to be unprepared. As it has happened before.

Seems like a silly idea as there are no geographically near countries with the capability to launch such an attack.
The countries that could launch such an attack are aware of the consequences.

At this time … maybe … But tech is continuing to evolve at a very fast pace. E.g. Hypersonic missiles. Plus, we really don't know what is still classified or even unknown.

The US is not Israel where there is geographic proximity and terrorist organisations willing and able to launch large numbers of small payloads.

Terrorists are not the primary reason for this weapon. The big threats are nuclear armed adversaries. E.g. the PRC, Russia, and to lesser extent N. Korea. Not saying that AQ or ISIS, etc., don't want a nuke. But I'm pretty sure they thought about it. But in this situation, terrorist/jihadi attacks are not the major reason to use this weapon.