Senate Confirms Gen. Michael Guetlein as ‘Golden Dome’ Czar

The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved the nomination of General Michael A. Guetlein to lead the Department of Defense’s ambitious “Golden Dome” missile defense initiative. The confirmation comes after President Trump formally selected General Guetlein in mid‑June to helm the program as its “direct reporting program manager”.

Golden Dome aims to build a layered defense shield for the United States against a spectrum of modern threats—ballistic missiles, hypersonic gliders, advanced cruise missiles—and for the first time, deploy interceptor weapons in space. In May, President Trump announced a projected cost of approximately $175 billion over three years, backed by an initial $25 billion funding request.

Following the Senate vote, Congressional Golden Dome Caucus Co‑Chairs U.S. Representatives Dale Strong (R‑AL5) and Jeff Crank (R‑CO) issued a joint statement expressing strong support for the confirmation.

Rep. Strong said,

“President Trump’s decision to have General Guetlein serve as the Golden Dome Czar is a strategic move to strengthen our national defense at a critical time. I applaud the Senate for swiftly taking up his nomination, and I look forward to working with him to defend our homeland and advance the Golden Dome’s mission to keep Americans safe.”

Rep. Crank added,

“Congratulations to General Guetlein on his confirmation. I am confident that under his leadership, President Trump’s vision to innovate our homeland missile defense through Golden Dome will soon become a reality – creating a strong deterrence against our adversaries. I look forward to working with General Guetlein to ensure Congress is providing as much support as possible for this essential program.”

The Congressional Golden Dome Caucus was founded in June 2025, following an Executive Order issued on January 27, 2025, which directed the development of a next-generation missile defense shield encompassing airborne and space-based threats.

Guetlein brings deep experience to the role. He served as Program Executive for Programs and Integration at the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) at Redstone Arsenal from April 2017 to June 2019. Most recently, he has held the position of Vice Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force—a role in which he oversaw major acquisitions and played a key role in shaping the service’s space capabilities.

Golden Dome represents one of the most extensive defense programs in Pentagon history. It will involve collaboration across U.S. Space Force, Missile Defense Agency, Army, Navy, and Air Force units. The 2026 budget request includes $25 billion to support the initiative, with total costs expected to exceed $100 billion.

Critics question the program’s scope and delivery timeline. Some estimate it could cost up to $542 billion over 20 years—and Pentagon officials do not expect it to be fully operational by 2029. However, supporters argue Golden Dome is essential to counter advanced threats from near-peer adversaries.

With General Guetlein now confirmed, administration and congressional leaders will focus on aligning funding, integrating existing systems, and building the complex defenses planned under Golden Dome. His deep technical and acquisition experience positions him to lead one of the most ambitious defense efforts in recent memory.