Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. All News Sport Culture Lifestyle (Getty Images) Trump 's proposed Golden Dome missile defense system is projected to cost $1.2 trillion over two decades, according to a Congressional Budget Office report, far exceeding the initial $175 billion estimate. Unveiled in an executive order on Jan. 27, 2025, the space-based system aims to defend against foreign aerial attacks and is slated to be fully operational by January 2029. The CBO's estimate covers personnel, research and development, maintenance, upgrades, and space-based interceptors, acknowledging that the administration has provided limited specific details. Despite $24 billion in congressional approval, reports indicate the project has barely commenced, partly due to withheld funds and industry reluctance to invest in a complex undertaking with an uncertain future.…