IPPNW, Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Back from the Brink released a scientific report on May 19, 2026 that finds a proposed U.S. missile defense system—dubbed the “Golden Dome”—would leave tens of millions of Americans vulnerable to nuclear attack while costing trillions of dollars and accelerating the global arms race.
The report notes that a comprehensive system capable of addressing modern threats could cost as much as $3.6 trillion—and yet would never be 100% effective, leaving hundreds of millions of Americans in target zones.
The report notes that a comprehensive system capable of addressing modern threats could cost as much as $3.6 trillion—and yet would never be 100% effective, leaving hundreds of millions of Americans in target zones.
Key report findings include:
- Even in a best-case scenario, more than 300 warheads would penetrate the defense system
- 132 major U.S. cities could still be successfully targeted
- 75 million Americans live in areas that would be totally destroyed
The report evaluates claims stemming from a May 20, 2025 announcement by President Trump that the US could build a near-100% effective missile defense system within three years at a cost of $175 billion. However, the report—drawing on research including the American Enterprise Institute—finds such effectiveness is unrealistic and far more costly.
“These findings make clear that there is no technological shield capable of protecting the United States from nuclear war,” said Dr. Ira Helfand, the report’s principal author. “Even a highly effective system would still result in societal collapse and mass casualties.”
The report also highlights global impacts. Nuclear firestorms could inject massive amounts of soot into the atmosphere, lowering global temperatures and triggering a famine that could kill up to 1.4 billion people within two years.
Authors warn that pursuing such a system would create a false sense of security while fueling a new nuclear arms race, as adversaries expand arsenals to overwhelm U.S. defenses. The report calls on the United States to begin negotiations with other nuclear-armed nations toward a verifiable agreement to dismantle global nuclear arsenals.