In 2025, the American president had announced his desire to develop the “Golden Shield”, a missile defense system based on the Israeli Iron Dome model, and have it operational before the end of his term in 2029. He then estimated the total cost to be “around 175 billion dollars once completed.” However, many experts at that time had criticized the project as unrealistic and redundant given the existing missile defense systems already in place in the United States.
In a report published Tuesday by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), this independent parliamentary agency estimates that a national missile defense system with capabilities broadly aligned with those demanded by Donald Trump would “cost around 1.2 trillion dollars to develop, deploy, and operate over 20 years.” According to the CBO, the space component of the system would represent nearly 60% of the total costs.
China and Russia Oppose the Project
Similar to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) or “Star Wars” launched by Ronald Reagan in the 1980s, the “Golden Shield,” or “Golden Dome,” aims to position interceptor satellites in space. The goal is to rapidly destroy any intercontinental ballistic missile heading towards American territory. China and Russia strongly opposed Donald Trump’s project last year.
