Golden Dome defense initiative could cost $3.6 trillion over the next 20 years

Federal Newscast · Feb 5, 2026 · 7m

Taxpayers for Common Sense, a fiscal watchdog group, says the Trump administration’s Golden Dome missile defense initiative could cost as much as $3.6 trillion over the next 20 years, far exceeding the White House’s projected $175 billion. The group also argues the effort faces “insurmountable” technical hurdles that could prevent it from reliably defending the United States against nuclear threats. “Even under generous technical assumptions, the viability challenges facing Golden Dome are severe,” the report warns. Plus, the initiative could accelerate the nuclear arms race and complicate…