ICYMI: Fischer Urges Long-Term Funding For Golden Dome

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), joined the Air and Space Forces Association’s 2026 Air, Space & Cyber Conference to discuss why the Golden Dome missile defense shield is urgently needed to bolster America’s homeland defense. Fischer – who chairs the SASC Strategic Forces Subcommittee – was joined by Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command, and Gen. Michael Guetlein, director of Golden Dome for America. Watch the full discussion here or by clicking the image above. On congressional support for Golden Dome : “There is still a lot of work that has to be done. We've always had really strong bipartisan support on the Armed Services Committee when it comes to working together to identify threats and meet the needs that the Department and the military have presented to us. … “First of all, we need to get the information that we need, but we also need to have a better understanding of just what Golden Dome involves. “I think a lot of times people forget that in our 2024 NDAA, which came out of the Senate Armed Services Committee, we had a provision to do a study on a layered missile defense system. When President Trump came into the White House, he made it Golden Dome, but it started within Congress. I think that's important to remember because it shows you the level of commitment that's there. “As we move forward, we're going to need better information. We were talking backstage a little bit about [Congressional Budget Office] scores and how unrealistic some of those can be sometimes. I think that's due to the fact that there isn't a clear understanding of this layered defense that we're looking at when it comes to defending our homeland.” On whether the current plans for Golden Dome are ‘good enough’ : “Well, right now we aren't defending [our homeland], so that's not good enough. “Sure, we can defend against a massive strategic attack on this country. We can deter. That's our defense. … “We need to present our president with options, and we need to be able to defend our homeland. That's when we have a good enough defense of our homeland, so we don't get into a situation where we're looking at massive destruction.” On Golden Dome’s role in a potential future Pacific conflict : “ I personally believe it's better to have friends. It's better to have allies, and we need to make sure they understand that we're there for them as well. When we work together, we're stronger. “I think it's also better that we inform the people of this country to a greater extent about some of the threats we face. “It was very telling when the Chinese balloon came over the country and we saw the reaction of citizens here in the United States. Some of the reactions I heard in Nebraska and elsewhere in the country as I traveled were: ‘When was it detected? Why didn't you just take it down right away? What was on it?’ “… They should also be aware that we are working to make sure this country is defended and that we do have the information. “… I've pushed, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, to declassify some material so people have a better understanding. But we also want people to be assured that this country can and will defend itself. “We will not back off from that. … We continue to look at current assets that we can use, but also at what's ahead for us with new technology. What can we tap into in order to meet what these two generals have discussed as the needs of the country to defend against anyone who has mischief in mind?” On sustained federal funding for Golden Dome : “ To sustain a commitment through different administrations, different majorities, and different changes in our country — we've seen fallout from that across the board in the past. “I'm worried about it. I'm worried about it right now, to be honest with you, when it comes to being able to fund what we need. “I'm a supporter of the $1.5 trillion [defense budget]. That's what we need. “I'm also a supporter of it going through regular order, going through an appropriations process, having committee and subcommittee hearings, having transparency, being on the record with your votes, and laying it out so that an administration can then follow it, and you can see that commitment.” On educating the public on why Golden Dome is needed : “We have to have not just the buy-in from Congress to support our military and the defense of this country, but the buy-in from the people of this country as well. “That goes back to having them understand the threats, understand the needs, and understand the resources that are being committed to address all those needs — and having it be transparent and accountable.” ###