Executive Order 14186

The Iron Dome for America

Signed January 27, 2025, printed at 90 FR 8767. 4 sections of substance, 911 words.

In plain English

This order calls for a shield against missiles aimed at the country. It is named the Iron Dome for America.

Sec. 1. Purpose

The threat of attack by ballistic, hypersonic, and cruise missiles, and other advanced aerial attacks, remains the most catastrophic threat facing the United States. President Ronald Reagan endeavored to build an effective defense against nuclear attacks, and while this program resulted in many technological advances, it was canceled before its goal could be realized. And since the United States withdrew from the Anti- Ballistic Missile Treaty in 2002 and initiated development of limited homeland missile defense, official United States homeland missile defense policy has remained only to stay ahead of rogue-nation threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches. Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons has become more intense and complex with the development by peer and near-peer adversaries of next-generation delivery

In plain English

This sets out the case the order makes. It calls missile attack the worst threat the country faces. It names ballistic, hypersonic and cruise missiles. It recalls a Reagan era shield that was cancelled. It notes the country left a missile treaty in 2002. It says rival weapons have grown more advanced since.

Sec. 2. Policy

To further the goal of peace through strength, it is the policy of the United States that: (a) The United States will provide for the common defense of its citizens and the Nation by deploying and maintaining a next-generation missile defense shield; (b) The United States will deter--and defend its citizens and critical infrastructure against--any foreign aerial attack on the Homeland; and (c) The United States will guarantee its secure second-strike capability.

In plain English

This states the policy. A new missile shield is to be built and kept. It must guard people and key sites. It must deter attack from the air. The country must also keep the power to strike back. That power must survive a first attack.

Sec. 3. Implementation

Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall: (a) Submit to the President a reference architecture, capabilities-based requirements, and an implementation plan for the next-generation missile defense shield. The architecture shall include, at a minimum, plans for: (i) Defense of the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks from peer, near- peer, and rogue adversaries; (ii) Acceleration of the deployment of the Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor layer; (iii) Development and deployment of proliferated space-based interceptors capable of boost-phase intercept; (iv) Deployment of underlayer and terminal-phase intercept capabilities postured to defeat a countervalue attack; (v) Development and deployment of a custody layer of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture; (vi)

In plain English

This tells Defense to plan within 60 days. The plan covers a new missile shield. It must defend against several kinds of missile. It must speed up a space sensor layer. It must add interceptors based in space. Those would strike a missile early in flight. Ground based layers are included too.

Sec. 4. Allied and Theater Missile Defense Review

The United States continues to cooperate on missile defense with its allies and partners to aid in the defense of ally populations and troops and of forward-deployed United States troops. Following the submission to the President of the next-generation missile defense reference architecture under section 3(a) of this order, the Secretary of Defense shall direct a review of theater missile defense posture and initiatives to identify ways in which the United States and its allies and partners can: (a) Increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation on missile defense technology development, capabilities, and operations; (b) Improve theater missile defenses of forward- deployed United States troops and allied territories, troops, and populations; and (c) Increase and accelerate the provision of United States missile defense capabilities to allies and partners.

In plain English

This is about allies. It says shared missile defense will go on. That covers allied people and forward troops. After the main plan is filed, Defense must review posture. The review looks for ways to work together more. It also looks at sending more systems to allies.

Sec. 5. General Provisions

Every order carries this. It is not what the order does.

(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. [[Page 8769]] (c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. <GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT> (Presidential Sig.) THE WHITE HOUSE, January 27, 2025. [FR Doc. 2025-02182 Filed 1-31-25; 8:45 am] Billing code 3395-F4-P </pre></body>

In plain English

This is the closing clause that nearly every order carries. It says the order does not change what the law already allows. It also says no one can sue to enforce it.

How this order is quoted

Each section is quoted as the order prints it, under its own number and heading. Executive orders are United States government works and are not under copyright. Long sections are cut at a sentence and the whole order is a click away.