The Congressional Budget Office estimates that President Donald Trump's proposed Golden Dome missile defense shield would cost about $1.2 trillion over 20 years to develop, deploy, and operate. The projection far exceeds the $185 billion estimate previously cited by the Defense Department. Acquisition costs alone are expected to surpass $1 trillion, with roughly 70 percent tied to a planned space-based interceptor network of about 7,800 satellites.

Golden Dome would expand existing ground-based interceptor missiles, sensors, and command-and-control systems while adding orbiting satellites designed to detect, track, and potentially destroy incoming missiles. The system is intended to defend the entire United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and could counter an attack from a regional adversary such as North Korea. However, the budget office warned it could be overwhelmed by a large-scale assault from Russia or China.

The Space Force has awarded up to $3.2 billion in development contracts to 12 companies for space-based interceptor technologies, with future production contracts potentially worth billions more each year. Major defense contractors are expected to compete for key components as the administration pushes to meet a 2028 deadline set by executive order earlier this year.