Trump's $13B 'Golden Dome' Missile Shield Gets New Leader Amid High-Stakes Defense Push

The U.S. Senate has unanimously confirmed Space Force Gen.

Michael Guetlein as the inaugural head of the Pentagon's ambitious Golden Dome missile defense project. Backed by an additional $13 billion in congressional funding, the initiative aims to create a comprehensive shield to protect the U.S. homeland from ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced cruise missile threats, particularly from adversaries like China and Russia. Gen. Guetlein, a former Missile Defense Agency executive, is tasked with rapidly assembling a team and delivering a baseline architecture for the system within 60 days. The project, championed by President Trump, faces skepticism from experts regarding its feasibility and timeline, but enjoys strong political support.

If successful, Golden Dome would represent a major leap in U.S. missile defense capabilities.