Lawmakers seek clarity on 'Golden Dome' homeland defense concept from Air Force leaders

Lawmakers at the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing demanded clearer details from Department of the Air Force leaders about the administration’s nascent “Golden Dome” homeland defense concept.

The committee asked three core questions: what Golden Dome is, whether it is technically feasible, and who would lead and pay for it. “This committee needs to have a clear understanding of the Golden Dome concept. Specifically, what is the Golden Dome? Is it technically feasible? How much will it cost? And who is who's in charge?” Chairman Ken Calvert asked.

Acting Secretary Frank Ashworth and senior leaders described Golden Dome as an emergent, system‑of‑systems construct intended to defend the homeland with space, air and ground sensors and effectors knitted together by command‑and‑control and battle management. “You can think... that Golden Dome is going to be a large systems assistance kind of a construct. It will have space sensing, space effectors. It will have air sensing, air effectors, as well as, ground, sensing and ground effectors. All has to be knitted together, too, by a C2 and a battle management type of a structure,” Ashworth said.

Officials said the concept remains at a high level and must be further developed before concrete cost and acquisition plans can be delivered. Ashworth said the department is working to finalize an initial concept for the secretary of defense and then the White House. Committee members pressed that any detailed plan should include technical feasibility, cost estimates, and an explanation of which component or office would be accountable for program execution and sustainment.

Members also flagged that capabilities developed for homeland defense could have expeditionary applications, and they urged the department to consider joint and allied interoperability in design choices. The subcommittee said it expects a written concept and cost estimate when program details are ready.