U.S. President Donald Trump formally unveiled the “Golden Dome” air defense initiative on Tuesday, describing it as a historic project that will “protect every inch of American soil.” Speaking from the Oval Office alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Michael Guetlein—who will oversee the program—Trump announced that the system is expected to be operational before the end of his current term in 2029.
The “Golden Dome” system will be integrated into existing U.S. air defense architecture, according to Trump, and is projected to cost $175 billion upon completion. He noted that $25 billion has already been earmarked in an upcoming funding package, which he described as a “big and beautiful bill.” Trump also revealed that an architectural firm has been selected to lead the construction effort.
Trump first proposed the “Golden Dome” during his 2024 campaign, citing inspiration from Israel’s “Iron Dome” air defense system. He claimed he had watched the Israeli system intercept Iranian missiles and drones and envisioned a similar system for the U.S.
However, critics—including some within the military—have raised serious doubts about the feasibility and strategic necessity of such a project. Unlike Israel, which faces frequent short-range rocket attacks from neighboring groups and countries, the U.S. spans a vast geography bordered by two largely peaceful neighbors and protected by two oceans. It has never faced a direct missile or rocket attack on its mainland.
Israel’s Iron Dome is designed to intercept short-range, often crudely made projectiles and is still known to be imperfect, especially when overwhelmed by barrages. Moreover, U.S. defense experts have acknowledged that current American air defense systems remain unable to reliably intercept hypersonic missiles—now deployed by adversaries including Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.
Since the early 2000s, U.S. defense strategy has shifted away from the Cold War doctrine of “mutual assured destruction” toward building limited missile defense systems aimed at intercepting ICBMs. Critics argue that these efforts have been largely unsuccessful in keeping pace with advances in missile technology.
While Trump claims the “Golden Dome” can be built within four years at a cost of $175 billion, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates the true cost could reach $500 billion, with construction potentially extending over two decades.