The Trump administration is expanding its search for collaborators to construct the Golden Dome missile defense system.
The administration is considering alternatives to SpaceX, such as Amazons Project Kuiper and traditional defense contractors, as the relationship between President Trump and Elon Musk becomes increasingly tense.
According to Breitbart, the Trump administration is strategically altering its approach to the construction of the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense shield. As the rift between President Donald Trump and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk widens, the Pentagon and White House are actively seeking alternatives to SpaceX's dominance in the program, as per three sources privy to the situation.
SpaceXs Starlink and Starshield satellite networks have been pivotal to U.S. military communications to date. However, officials are now cautious about over-dependence on a single partner, particularly in light of the recent public discord between Trump and Musk.
The administration is reaching out to new players, including Amazons Project Kuiper, which has launched a mere 78 of its proposed 3,000 low-earth orbit satellites. The Pentagon's interest in incorporating commercial tech firms like Kuiper into national defense infrastructure indicates a readiness to look beyond traditional defense contractors.
While SpaceX remains a leading contender due to its unparalleled launch capabilities and experience, its share of the program could decrease. The Pentagon is also interacting with new entrants such as rocket companies Stoke Space and Rocket Lab, which are gaining momentum and will be able to bid on individual launches as Golden Dome develops.
Traditional defense powerhouses Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, and L3Harris are also in discussions to support the project. L3Harris has experienced a surge in interest in its missile warning and tracking technologies, while Northrop is pursuing initiatives like a space-based interceptor. Lockheed Martin has expressed its readiness to serve as a proven mission partner.
This shift may be partially driven by Musks threat to undermine Americas capabilities in space as part of his betrayal of President Trump. Musk, intertwining SpaceX in his personal animosity towards Trump, threatened to decommission the Dragon spacecraft.
Breitbart News previously reported:
In a shocking escalation of the verbal conflict between Elon Musk and President Donald Trump on Thursday, the SpaceX tycoon announced that the company would begin decommissioning its Dragon spacecraft immediately, a threat to Americas space launch capabilities fueled by his personal animosity for the President. Musk later retracted the threat.
Elon Musks threat to decommission the Dragon spacecraft, which is currently the only U.S. option for transporting crew to and from the International Space Station (ISS), was met with concern from the space community. However, just hours after his initial announcement, Musk reversed course, stating, Ok, we wont decommission Dragon, in response to a user on his social media platform X who urged him to cool off and take a step back for a couple days.
This has redefined the competitive landscape for smaller, newer Silicon Valley firms with close ties to Trump, such as Palantir and Anduril, which were considered early frontrunners for significant portions of the project.
Under a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, newly confirmed Space Force General Michael Guetlein has strict timelines to assemble a team, deliver an initial system design, and present a comprehensive implementation plan for Golden Dome.
The inclusion of commercial platforms like Kuiper raises security concerns, as the satellites would need to be fortified against cyberattacks and electronic warfare.
Login