A bill sponsored by Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., and endorsed by Sens. Dan Sullivan, R-Ark., and Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., that aims to modernize and enhance the United States’ missile defense capabilities was introduced on Tuesday.
Messmer’s website says the Ground and Orbital Launched Defeat of Emergent Nuclear Destruction and Other Missile Engagements, or GOLDEN DOME, Act of 2025, seeks to address evolving global threats through a cutting-edge, layered missile defense system. It is aligned with President Trump’s January Executive Order calling for an “Iron Dome for America” and with further plans made public by Trump and Secretary of Defense and Wash100 Award winner Pete Hegseth in May.
We have unpacked the key features, objectives and implications of this significant development in national defense.
To hear about the initiative directly from the general who has been tapped to lead it, Michael Guetlein of U.S. Space Force, register now for the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Air and Space Summit. This highly informative GovCon conference will not only feature a keynote address from Guetlein but also an all-industry panel discussion on Golden Dome, and a keynote from MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins. It’s all happening on July 31 at Hilton McLean in Virginia.
What Is the Golden Dome Act?
The primary goal of the GOLDEN DOME Act is to create a sophisticated defense framework that protects the United States from a range of modern and emerging threats, including ballistic missiles, hypersonic weapons and drones. Drawing inspiration from Israel’s Iron Dome—which has demonstrated a 90 percent interception rate in battlefield conditions according to CNN—this act proposes a U.S.-based missile shield with similar capabilities, expanded with advanced technologies for space and ground deployment.
According to national security directives, the act also intends to:
- Deter and defend against foreign aerial attacks.
- Enhance the United States’ ability to neutralize adversarial nuclear weapons.
- Guarantee a secure second-strike capability to maintain global strategic stability.
Key Features of the Golden Dome Act
The Golden Dome initiative includes ambitious objectives and significant resource allocation to establish a multi-pronged missile defense strategy. Below are some major highlights:
1. Funding Allocation
The act allocates $23.02 billion for fiscal year 2026, with specific distributions for various defense technologies, including:
- $1.5 billion for PAC-2 and PAC-3 munitions and support for Patriot missile batteries.
- $5.9 billion for the research, development, and deployment of space-based defense systems.
- $2.5 billion for advancing non-kinetic missile defense capabilities, such as directed-energy systems.
- $500 million for constructing and operationalizing Aegis Ashore stations in Alaska and Hawaii.
2. Space-Based Defense
A key component of the act is its emphasis on integrating space-based technologies. This includes the development of hypersonic and ballistic tracking space sensors and deploying satellite sensor networks to detect and intercept threats earlier in their trajectory.
3. Modernization Initiatives
The proposed system aims to upgrade existing defense infrastructure, including:
- Enhancements to the Perimeter Acquisition Radar Attack Characterization System, or PARCS, at North Dakota’s Cavalier Space Force Station.
- Modernization of terrestrial-based domain awareness radars through artificial intelligence and machine learning platforms.
4. Hypersonic Defense
The bill devotes $450 million to counter-hypersonic programs with a focus on advanced glide-phase interceptors, catering to the escalating development of hypersonic weapons by peer competitors like China and Russia.
Broader National Security Context
The Golden Dome Act aligns with ongoing efforts to fortify U.S. national security by addressing vulnerabilities in missile defense capabilities. It is the sister of the executive order “The Iron Dome for America” by President Trump, in which the president emphasized a robust missile shield as critical to securing the nation’s future.
By modernizing missile defense strategies, the act is designed to deter adversaries and reassure allies, sending a clear signal of American resolve and technological superiority. President Trump estimated the total project cost at $175 billion over the long-term, although the Congressional Budget Office projects expenses could exceed $800 billion within two decades.
Implications for Policy and Technology
The Golden Dome Act marks a significant step in advancing the United States’ military capabilities, with wide-reaching implications for policy, technology and geopolitics:
1. Strengthening Deterrence
The act’s deployment of space-based and ground-based systems is expected to bolster the U.S.’s capacity to prevent escalation in conflicts with nuclear-capable states.
2. Advancing Defense Technology
By allocating substantial funding to research and development, the act ensures continued innovation in areas like artificial intelligence-driven radar systems, directed energy weapons, and space surveillance.
3. Economic and Defense Sector Impact
The act will likely stimulate significant activity among U.S. defense contractors, including firms like Lockheed Martin, which are already preparing to contribute to the project. It also accelerates the timeline for deploying additional commercial and military satellite networks.
4. Global Security Implications
While the Golden Dome offers enhanced homeland security, its implementation may lead to an arms race, with competitor nations developing countermeasures to bypass U.S. defenses.
Critical Challenges
Although the act aims to create a comprehensive solution, several challenges remain:
- Cost concerns: With total projected costs potentially exceeding $800 billion, funding the program may strain future defense budgets and invite scrutiny from fiscal conservatives.
- Operational feasibility: Experts note that achieving full operational deployment could take seven to 10 years, leaving critical gaps in coverage during the interim period.
- Coverage limitations: Initial phases of deployment may only protect critical infrastructure and major metropolitan areas, leaving vast regions of the country vulnerable.
Why Is the Golden Dome Important?
The Golden Dome Act embodies an ambitious vision for U.S. missile defense in the 21st century. By leveraging advanced technologies and significant financial investment, the initiative seeks to safeguard the nation from rapidly evolving threats. While challenges related to budget and implementation remain, the act establishes a framework for the future of national defense.
Don’t miss the opportunity to catch Golden Dome leader and Wash100 Award winner Gen. Michael Guetlein’s keynote address at the 2025 Air and Space Summit on July 31 and to hear from a panel of industry experts from L3Harris, RTX, Booz Allen and more about how the private sector can meet the immense needs of the government on this project. Register here to tap into first-rate GovCon networking and insights.
As policymakers and defense experts debate its nuances, one thing is clear: the Golden Dome Act represents a bold step forward in ensuring the United States’ security in an increasingly volatile world. Time will reveal how its promises translate into practical and strategic outcomes.
