CBO Estimates $1.2 Trillion Cost for Golden Dome Missile Defense Program

A new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessment estimates that the Golden Dome missile-defense system could cost $1.2 trillion to fully implement, significantly exceeding the Trump administration’s initial projections. The administration had promised a cost of $175 billion, while its current five-year budget allocates only $79 billion. The system, which includes space-based interceptors, would not provide an impenetrable defense against large-scale attacks, particularly from peer adversaries. Roughly $730 billion of the projected cost would purchase enough space-based interceptors to destroy about ten incoming ballistic missiles. Analysts argue that the administration’s current funding levels would only provide incremental improvements to the existing missile defense system. The Pentagon has relied heavily on reconciliation funds outside the baseline defense budget to support Golden Dome, with $24 billion obtained last year and $17 billion requested for 2027. The CBO noted that omitting space-based interceptors could reduce costs to $448 billion, but the system would no longer align with the objectives of the executive order. Experts suggest that Congress should focus on more attainable defense strategies, such as ground-based interceptors and drone defenses, rather than expensive, unscalable space-based systems. The report highlights ongoing concerns about budget accuracy, technological feasibility, and strategic priorities for U.S. missile defense.