Democrats Set to Gut Golden Dome as Its Republican Backers Exit Congress

Two of the top lawmakers backing the Pentagon's Golden Dome missile defense shield are among the wave of Republicans heading out of Congress as Democrats take control. Their departures leave President Donald Trump's signature second-term defense initiative without its loudest congressional champions, raising questions about where the program goes next.

Golden Dome has dodged serious congressional scrutiny since Trump announced it in January 2025, one week into his second term. That free ride is over. Democrats will take responsibility for writing the Pentagon's budget, introduce limits on funding, and put forth bills to strip out the program's most controversial component and give it a new name, according to Ars Technica.

The military itself has been signaling a retreat. Officials have indicated in recent months that they might backpedal from one element Trump specifically asked for: the ability to shoot down missiles in their initial boost phase, shortly after launch.