Hegseth's decision to shutter DOT&E was at least partially triggered by the office's plans to oversee Golden Dome's test plans, sources told Defense News.

It would be the equivalent of us going back 1,000 years and having to start from scratch." In response to these hypothetical - but experts say quite possible - threats, US President Donald Trump has set his eyes on a "next generation" missile shield: the Golden Dome.

Space Force General Michael Guetlein, who was appointed to oversee the Golden Dome project, warned that adversaries are intent on placing the U.S. at risk by building space weapons. Trump claimed that the Golden Dome will be capable of intercepting space-launched missiles.