OPINION:
America’s Golden Dome is a priority for President Trump. It is strategically important for Congress to coordinate with the administration to secure this defense capability.
The Golden Dome offers missile defense, which could close the gap from sensors to shooter, including the threat of hypersonic attack, across all warfighting domains of land, air, sea, space and cyberspace. It also provides an offensive advantage for the homeland, sending a strategic message to America’s adversaries and allies that we are a nation prepared to protect and defend our citizens.
Mr. Trump’s executive order, his priority focus in the budget and his announcement of Gen. Michael Guetlein as Golden Dome “czar,” with the support of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, emphasize the importance of protecting and defending America via peace through strength. The executive branch is working expeditiously to streamline the contractor bidding and acquisition processes to execute the president’s and Pentagon’s warfighter requirements.
While the president proposes, it is Congress that disposes. Regarding the Golden Dome, it is Congress that will provide peace through strategy in successfully countering the threats the homeland faces from China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. It is important to realize that the Pentagon cannot reform its acquisition processes absent Congress’ reform of its appropriation processes. When a defense budget is delayed, the warfighter is delayed in receiving the assets, readiness and training that sustain peace through strength. America’s adversaries have accelerated vis-a-vis congressional continuing resolutions.
America’s long-term planning is built on two-, four- and seven-year cycles, around our election officials. This democratic form of governance serves our republic well, allowing American citizens to elect their leaders. Each year, 12 bills make up the discretionary spending of the federal government and undergo annual review by congressional appropriators, after which the individual bills are voted on by each chamber and either signed into law or vetoed by the president. This annual review can be cumbersome. It is not aligned with the technological advantages now accelerating at the speed of artificial intelligence and, in the future, at the rate of quantum computing.
The grand strategy of America’s adversaries is controlled by dictators, spanning dynasties and generations, absent any oversight or government regulations to hinder the funding and development of defense capabilities. America’s form of fair and free elections, allowing for congressional oversight of the president, should never mirror those of oppressive, authoritarian regimes.
Congress does, however, have a legislative responsibility to ensure that the funding of the warfighter can keep pace with the speed of technology to equip America’s military, assure its allies and deter its adversaries in every corner of the globe, including its homeland.
America can maintain its systems of checks and balances while modernizing its processes. The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 illustrates such an improvement within the Pentagon. Today, for example, there could be a Thune-Johnson Act of 2025 that systematically outlines the ability for Congress to act nimbly to allocate spending priorities for critical defense technologies.
Such an appropriations reform act would require Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson to work within their respective chambers to unify Congress on a long-term spending grand strategy that ensures defense technologies can be nimble and accelerated in funding. Congress, which will make or break this era of innovation and technological acceleration, is responsible for the Golden Dome’s success in keeping America and the world safe for generations.
The political opportunity to sustain what will perhaps be one of the most significant political undertakings since the Manhattan Project requires a whole-of-nation response among government, private industry and thought leaders to execute the Golden Dome. Congress must be able to legislate with oversight and care while offering speed and nimbleness. The defense appropriations process must be reformed so America can catch up to China and Russia and resume our strategic advantage militarily and technologically.
There are moments in history when American leadership paves the way for an innovative, greater future for all. The Golden Dome presents a moment for unity for the homeland. The executive branch cannot be successful in this undertaking at the legislative pace of the appropriations process. Congress has a shining and strategic moment to streamline how it disposes of the president’s proposal.
• Brooke Taylor is the founder and CEO of Defending Our Country LLC. www.docbrooke.net.
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