Rep. Jeff Crank says White House delays in delivering a Congress-ready blueprint for the 'Golden Dome' missile shield are risking the initiative's aggressive timeline, which targets a working prototype by the end of 2028. Although nearly 2,500 companies have joined a Missile Defense Agency contract vehicle worth up to $151 billion, Crank stresses that only Congress can fund the program and resolve policy gaps — notably domestic drone and counter-drone authority. He says a scaled-back approach could be considered to meet deadlines if necessary.
Lawmaker Warns White House Delay Risks Losing Momentum On 'Golden Dome' Missile Shield
U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank (third from left) poses in front of a 302d Airlift Wing C-130H Hercules at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, June 17, 2025. (Kevin Williams/Air Force)
Rep. Jeff Crank, a Colorado Republican and co-founder of the House Golden Dome Caucus, says delays by the White House in delivering a Congress-ready blueprint for the administration's 'Golden Dome' missile defense initiative are jeopardizing the program's tight timetable.
Why The Delay Matters
Crank and Rep. Dale Strong (R-Ala.) launched the caucus last June as an 'educational clearinghouse' to help lawmakers and staff understand the plan and to coordinate with military and industry stakeholders. The caucus aims to keep the effort on an ambitious schedule that envisions a working prototype by the end of 2028.
Although Crank has been briefed on the administration's classified Golden Dome architecture, he says Congress has not yet received an actionable blueprint — a deliverable that was expected by the end of 2025. 'It's certainly been frustrating,' he told Military Times.
Historical Context And Technical Urgency
Crank invoked the Strategic Defense Initiative from the Reagan era, noting that ambitious defense projects can lose momentum if timelines slip and technology remains unproven. 'When you're trying to prove that something is technically feasible, you have to have a timeline that you meet,' he said, likening the need for deadlines to President Kennedy's moonshot timeline in 1962.
'Golden Dome will only be successful if we meet President Trump's timeline,' Crank said when the caucus launched. 'Members and stakeholders must be well informed and working together to revolutionize missile defense of our great nation.'
Scale, Funding And Policy Hurdles
President Trump signed an executive order establishing Golden Dome in January 2025. Over the past six weeks, nearly 2,500 companies have joined a Missile Defense Agency contract vehicle tied to the initiative, with work that could total up to $151 billion.
Crank cautions that an executive order alone cannot deliver the program; only Congress can appropriate the funds needed to move from concept to prototype. He wants lawmakers and agencies to resolve policy gaps — particularly around domestic drone operations and counter-drone authorities — so those elements of the shield can be implemented lawfully and efficiently.
'Congress is going to have to figure out where one authority ends for a particular agency and where another one begins. It's very blurred right now,' Crank said, warning that historically the nation has sometimes waited for a crisis to clarify such jurisdictional questions.
Options And Outlook
With the administration promoting other high-profile projects — including a so-called 'Golden Fleet' of ships and proposals for installations in places like Greenland discussed at Davos — observers have asked whether Golden Dome is at risk of losing focus. Crank said he would consider a scaled-back approach if it helped meet the 2028 prototype goal. 'Any improved system is better than the system that we have now,' he said. 'But again, I think it is technically feasible.'
Crank added that he would like Congress and the White House to be months further along to preserve momentum and to demonstrate technical feasibility on schedule.
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