GOLDEN DOME Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Representative Messmer
Introduced
Summary
Would create a centralized next‑generation homeland missile defense spanning land, sea, air, space, and cyber and accelerate development, testing, and fielding through a dedicated Golden Dome program office with sweeping acquisition and budget powers.
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- Military leaders and program managers: Would establish a Golden Dome Program Manager who reports to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs with broad authorities for contracting, hiring, classification, milestone decisions, and full budget oversight. The office would be exempt from the Joint Capabilities Integration and Development System and DoD Directive 5000.01 to speed acquisition.
- Space industry and sensors: Would declare the Space Development Agency an independent element of the Space Force, accelerate tranches 3–5 of the proliferated warfighter space architecture, and require procuring at least 40 Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor (HBTSS) vehicles by December 1, 2025.
- Manufacturers, testers, and operators: Would push distributed and additive manufacturing, require a lifecycle testing regime starting within 540 days and semiannual live‑fire exercises for mission systems, and authorize program lines including $460 million for Next Generation Interceptor production to procure up to 80 NGI units.
*Would authorize $23.0 billion for fiscal year 2026 to carry out the Act, increasing federal defense spending for that year.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
About $23 billion for 2026 defenses
The bill would authorize about $23.023 billion in fiscal year 2026 for Golden Dome. Money would cover missiles, radars, sensors, space systems, and construction. Examples include $500 million for SM‑3 Block 1B, $500 million for SM‑3 Block IIA, and $3.1 billion for hypersonic‑tracking space vehicles. It would also fund space‑based missile defense and sensor networks at about $5.9 billion, and Next Generation Interceptor production and expansion at Fort Greely.
Buy 40 missile-tracking satellites by 2025
The Defense Department would have to buy at least 40 satellites with hypersonic and ballistic tracking sensors by December 1, 2025. The Golden Dome manager would lead this with the Missile Defense Agency and the Space Development Agency. This would speed deployment of space tracking for missile defense.
Expanded powers to stop dangerous drones
The bill would expand Defense and Coast Guard powers to detect and stop dangerous drones. It would extend key deadlines to December 31, 2030 and November 15, 2030, and stretch a 180‑day period to one year. Remote ID signals and other methods could be used, and authority would be delegated to combatant commands and other leaders. It would cover more DoD sites and allow help to local officials in nuclear, radiological, biological, chemical, or explosives incidents. Some technical details would be exempt from public release, and certain federal laws would not apply to these activities outside the United States.
New Golden Dome leader and faster buying
This bill would create a Golden Dome Program Manager, a senior military officer who reports to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. The manager would control buying, testing, and sustainment and could make milestone and contracting decisions, hire directly, and manage budgets across categories regardless of reprogramming limits. Golden Dome work would be exempt from some standard DoD processes so the manager could use faster, lawful buying methods and more commercial products, with subcontracting allowed at all tiers. Federal agencies like DHS, FCC, FAA, and intelligence elements would be required to prioritize Golden Dome decisions. The Space Development Agency would stay independent in the Space Force and be exempt from certain requirements.
Regular missile defense tests and reports
The Pentagon would have to run a strict, ongoing test program for Golden Dome systems. Testing must start within 540 days of enactment with a virtual exercise, then continue for each system’s life. Test plans would be sent to Congress 90 days before a test, and live-fire tests for mission‑essential systems would happen twice a year. If a test slips, monthly in‑person briefings to Congress would continue until it resumes, and any waiver would require a briefing within 14 days.
Open competition for key space systems
Agencies would be required to keep competition strong in national security space buying. Mission‑critical systems that send tactical data from low Earth orbit would be bought through open competitions with interoperable standards. “As‑a‑service” deals would have to prove they are competitive on performance, cost, and speed, and avoid shrinking the industry when possible. Procurement officials would issue guidance to put these rules in place.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Messmer
IN • R
Cosponsors
Fallon
TX • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Harrigan
NC • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Crenshaw
TX • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
McCormick
GA • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Wilson (SC)
SC • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Bergman
MI • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Luttrell
TX • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Jackson (TX)
TX • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
McGuire
VA • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Van Orden
WI • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Yakym
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Finstad
MN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Mast
FL • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Shreve
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
McDowell
NC • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Baird
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Hamadeh (AZ)
AZ • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Mills
FL • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Steube
FL • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Houchin
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Begich
AK • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Gimenez
FL • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Stutzman
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2025
Nunn (IA)
IA • R
Sponsored 6/25/2025
Haridopolos
FL • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Miller-Meeks
IA • R
Sponsored 7/2/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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