The Iron Dome for America
The Iron Dome for America is an executive order issued by President Donald J. Trump (Executive Order 14186) in late January 2025. It directs the development of a next-generation homeland missile defense shield to deter and defend against ballistic, hypersonic, cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial threats from peer, near-peer, and rogue adversaries. The order frames missile defense as essential to “peace through strength” and to preserving a secure second-strike capability. It tasks the Secretary of Defense with delivering a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan within 60 days, including a broad set of defense layers (space-based sensors and interceptors, underlayer and terminal intercepts, and non-kinetic options) and a secure, resilient supply chain. It also directs a funding plan for FY2026, a review of DoD authorities to move at the necessary speed, and a review of allied missile defense posture to better cooperate with partners. The order emphasizes cooperation with U.S. Strategic Command and U.S. Northern Command and requires updated threat assessments and a prioritized defense posture for countervalue defense locations. It explicitly states that nothing in the order creates enforceable legal rights and that implementation must comply with existing law and appropriations.
Key Points
- 1Purpose and scope: Establishes a next-generation, homeland missile defense shield to defend the U.S. against ballistic, hypersonic, and advanced aerial threats, ensuring deterrence and a secure second-strike capability.
- 260-day implementation directive: The Secretary of Defense must provide to the President a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan, covering: (i) defense against next-generation missiles; (ii) faster deployment of space-based tracking sensors; (iii) space-based interceptors for boost-phase; (iv) underlayer and terminal intercepts for countervalue attacks; (v) a custody layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture; (vi) pre-launch/boost-phase defeat capabilities; (vii) a secure, resilient supply chain; (viii) non-kinetic capabilities to augment kinetic defense.
- 3Funding and budgeting: In coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, develop a plan to fund the directive with time for consideration before finalizing the FY2026 budget.
- 4DoD organizational speed: Review relevant authorities and organization to ensure capabilities can be developed and deployed at the necessary pace.
- 5Allied and theater defense review: After the architecture submission, the Secretary of Defense will review theater missile defense posture with goals to increase cooperation with allies, improve defenses for forward-deployed troops and populations, and accelerate provision of US missile defense capabilities to partners.
- 6Risk/limits and legal framework: The order states it does not create enforceable rights and must be implemented in accordance with applicable law and with available appropriations.