CBO Warns US “Golden Dome” Missile Defense Cost Estimate Soars

(MENAFN) A sweeping US missile defense initiative known as the “Golden Dome,” backed by US President Donald Trump, is projected to cost significantly more than earlier estimates, according to an analysis released by the Congressional Budget Office.

The report places the total long-term cost of developing, deploying, and sustaining the system over 20 years at around $1.2 trillion—far exceeding the roughly $175 billion figure previously outlined by Trump when the plan was first introduced.

According to reports, the majority of the expenses—exceeding $1 trillion—would come from acquisition costs tied to building the system’s multiple defensive layers. These include interceptor missiles, space-based detection and tracking networks, as well as extensive research and development programs.

The analysis also found that space-based interceptors alone could account for about 70% of acquisition spending and roughly 60% of total program costs.

So far, Congress has only approved approximately $24.4 billion for the initiative.

The system is designed to provide full territorial coverage of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. In an executive order issued on Jan. 27, 2025, Trump stated that “the threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks, remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.”

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