Annie Comes Home: Tell Congress: Don’t fund Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’

Saturday, May 17, 2025

Tell Congress: Don’t fund Trump’s ‘Golden Dome’

We need to talk about the Golden Dome, Pamela — Trump's pipe dream for a space-based missile shield.

The program itself is fanciful, outrageously expensive, and a magnet for corruption. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the Golden Dome has a $542 BILLION price tag, though Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT.) — who supports the program — predicts the total costs could actually reach TRILLIONS.[1] More importantly, it likely won't even work. One physicist called it a "fantasy" and others have said the technology could take years and years to develop.[2] In response, other governments will only expand and upgrade their nuclear arsenals, leaving us in what one missile defense expert told NPR would be "at best, the same place we are today, and most likely a much worse place."[3]

The ONE group that won't lose? Weapons contractors like Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, and SpaceX who stand to rake in HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS of taxpayer dollars if the Golden Dome becomes reality.

'Golden Dome' is as unrealistic as it is wasteful, but that's not stopping the Trump administration from demanding a $25 BILLION down payment for it — even as House Republicans consider slashing funding for programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Activist voices in this moment are crucial. That's why we're asking you to speak out today:

As Congress finalizes the reconciliation package, we need to keep the pressure ON and urge them to save social programs and reject BILLIONS more for wasteful weapons contractor payouts like Golden Dome. Can we count on you?

ACT NOW

Golden Dome seems a lot like the kind of weapons contractor paydays we've seen before:

Take the $60 BILLION Freedom-class littoral combat ship (LCS): After decades of development, and costs that have more than doubled, it still can't reliably maintain power. People at the Pentagon referred to it as the "little crappy ship." Against all logic, in 2022 Congress stepped in to keep the LCS in service and keep the money flowing to their manufacturers.

Or the F-35. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that the cost of Lockheed Martin's "state-of-the-art" fighter jets would top $2 TRILLION.[4] The kicker? As of 2022, 9% of the planes couldn't even fly because they didn't "have a working engine."

By shining a spotlight on this corruption, we can avoid future payouts to massive corporations on taxpayer dimes— and push Congress to get its priorities in order.

Pamela, activist pressure is working. It's why Rep. Greg Casar recently led 42 Democratic lawmakers in demanding the Pentagon watchdog investigate Elon Musk's role in the Golden Dome contracting process.[5]

It's also why a dozen House Republicans sent their leadership a letter warning they could not support major cuts to Medicaid in the reconciliation package.

And it's why it's time to turn it up:

Your elected officials need to hear from you today. Sign now to tell Congress: Reject funding for Golden Dome and save social programs that millions of people rely on.

Thank you for working for peace,
The Win Without War team

[1] Bloomberg, "US Space-Based Missile Defense Could Cost $542 Billion, CBO Says"
[2] Union of Concerned Scientists, "Calls for U.S. Iron Dome "a Fantasy"
[3] NPR, "Trump wants a Golden Dome over America. Here's what it would take"
[4] USGAO, "F-35 Sustainment: Costs Continue to Rise While Planned Use and Availability Have Decreased"
[5] The Hill, "Democrats eye Musk's role in missile defense shield"