Republicans in U.S. Congress Plan $27 Billion for Golden Dome Defense System

Republican lawmakers in the U.S. Congress are preparing to propose an additional $150 billion in defense spending, including $27 billion earmarked for the so-called Golden Dome missile defense system, Reuters news agency reports.

If passed, the measure would push the total U.S. defense budget for fiscal year 2025 beyond $1 trillion, up from the already approved $886 billion.

The proposal is expected to be part of President Donald Trump’s broader tax legislation, which includes $5 trillion in tax cuts.

The package is estimated to increase the federal deficit by about $5.7 trillion over the next decade.

In addition to the Golden Dome, the spending package includes procurement of additional THAAD missile defense systems and interceptors, as well as $29 billion for 14 new naval vessels.

The Golden Dome initiative — pushed by Trump — would involve a satellite-based missile detection and interception system. Leading candidates for the program include SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril.

Under the plan, between 400 and more than 1,000 satellites would be deployed into low Earth orbit to detect and track missiles.

A separate fleet of 200 armed satellites would be capable of destroying incoming threats using missiles or laser-based systems. Sources suggest SpaceX will likely not be involved in arming the satellites.

The bill also allocates $5 billion for autonomous technologies and $20 billion for ammunition production, expansion of the defense industrial base, and stockpiling of critical minerals.

Notably, much of the proposed funding would remain available beyond the current fiscal year.

The spending plan appears to contradict a February directive by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to cut the Pentagon’s budget by 8% over five years.

The U.S. Army is reportedly considering reductions in drone and vehicle inventories, while the Navy is reevaluating the Littoral Combat Ship program.

Funding for U.S. European, Central, and African Commands is also expected to be reduced.