US Congressional Republicans seek $27 billion for the Golden Dome under Trump tax legislation

U.S. Congressional Republicans are set to propose a comprehensive $150 billion defense initiative, which includes an initial $27 billion allocation to enhance President Donald Trump‘s contentious Golden Dome missile defense system, as indicated by a document and a congressional aide.

This initiative will supplement the already approved $886 billion national security budget for 2025 and will also finance the construction of 14 warships while increasing homeland security funding. It is part of Trump’s extensive tax reform plan, projected to reduce taxes by approximately $5 trillion and increase the federal debt by around $5.7 trillion over the next ten years.

The specifics of this proposal, which have not been disclosed before, aim to meet the military’s urgent requirements, according to Republican Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in an interview with Reuters. He emphasized that the focus is on enhancing critical sectors such as naval shipbuilding, missile defense, and space surveillance, as well as bolstering the military’s presence, especially in the Indo-Pacific region, as part of a larger strategy to avert conflict.

Wicker stated, ‘A strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific will deter China from disrupting the status quo, which has fostered unprecedented global prosperity for many.’ This initiative is designed to prevent war.

The Republican leaders of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees have collaborated on this legislation, which is expected to be revealed as early as Friday evening.

The $27 billion investment in the Golden Dome program will facilitate the development of additional missile interceptors and the acquisition of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile systems, as per the congressional aide.

THAAD is manufactured by Lockheed Martin, while Elon Musk’s SpaceX and two other partners are reportedly leading candidates to secure a vital component of the Golden Dome initiative that would monitor incoming missiles, as reported by Reuters last week.

Mike Rogers, the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, announced that the bill will be expedited through the committee next week, with the aim of reaching the president’s desk promptly. He stated, ‘We are revitalizing our defense industrial base, enhancing our capacity to deter adversaries such as China, and providing our servicemembers with the support they rightfully deserve.’

According to a congressional aide, both Republican Chairmen are aligned with Trump regarding the spending priorities outlined in the proposal. The bill allocates $29 billion for the acquisition of 14 new ships, marking what is described as a ‘historic largest-ever’ investment in unmanned vessels.

Additionally, as part of an $11 billion increase in combat aircraft purchases, the bill includes funding for approximately 40 Boeing Co F-15EX fighter jets, as noted by the congressional aide. Furthermore, $20 billion has been designated for the production of new munitions, the expansion of the supplier base, and the replenishment of critical mineral stockpiles.

The spending package also allocates $14 billion for the integration of artificial intelligence and the production of new low-cost weapons. The scale of the conflict in Ukraine has underscored the need for larger inventories of affordable weaponry.

In an effort to deter China, the package sets aside $6 billion for weapons procurement priorities in the Pacific region. It also invests significantly in the development of innovative technologies, including a $5 billion commitment to autonomous systems, a notable increase from the $500 million previously allocated by the Biden administration.

To tackle the Pentagon’s ongoing audit challenges, $700 million has been designated to expedite the implementation of more automated systems within Department of Defense business processes.