Space Force General Refutes Claims That ‘Golden Dome’ Program Will Cost Trillions

Gen. Michael Guetlein tells defense contractors a $10 billion boost to $185 billion for domestic missile shield is to purchase proprietary space systems.

Illustration of defense forces using satellite tracking to deploy surface-to-air missiles. Courtesy of the Space Development Agency

The United States Space Force general managing the Pentagon’s Golden Dome for America program acknowledged on March 17 that the price tag for the ambitious homeland missile defense system has increased by $10 billion to a projected $185 billion, but dismissed estimates it will ultimately cost trillions.

“They’re not estimating what I’m building,” Golden Dome Director Gen. Michael Guetlein told defense analysts and contractors at the McAleese and Associates’ annual defense programs conference in Arlington, Va.