Trump’s missile defense dream could cost taxpayers trillions — and the U.S. might not even own it
President Donald Trump’s push to create a U.S. missile defense system akin to Israel’s Iron Dome is drawing new controversy as SpaceX, Palantir, and Anduril emerge as leading contenders to build it.
According to Reuters, the companies — all founded by major Trump supporters — are proposing to deploy “400 to more than 1,000 satellites” to detect missile threats, along with “a separate fleet of 200 attack satellites armed with missiles or lasers” to intercept them.
The system, dubbed the “Golden Dome,” has drawn sharp criticism from defense experts who call it an unnecessary and exorbitant endeavor. Critics warn the project could cost taxpayers trillions of dollars.
The most contentious aspect: SpaceX is reportedly pitching the system as a subscription service, meaning the U.S. government would not own the defense infrastructure, but pay for access to it.
“All three companies were founded by entrepreneurs who have been major political supporters of Trump,” Reuters notes.