Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard testified Thursday that the United States faces a rapidly expanding missile threat from hostile nations, including China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Pakistan.

Gabbard cited the intelligence community’s latest annual threat assessment, which projects that missiles capable of reaching the U.S. could rise from more than 3,000 today to over 16,000 by 2035. She emphasized that adversaries are developing both nuclear and conventional delivery systems that put the homeland within range.

North Korea has successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missiles, while Iran’s space-launch technology could be adapted into long-range missiles. Pakistan’s missile program may also pose future risks, and both China and Russia are advancing traditional and next-generation weapons, including hypersonic systems designed to bypass current defenses.

The escalating threat coincides with President Donald Trump’s homeland defense initiative, the “Golden Dome,” which integrates ground-based interceptors, satellite tracking, and space-based capabilities to detect and neutralize incoming missiles. The program, directed by Gen. Michael Guetlein, now has an estimated cost of $185 billion as major defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, RTX, and Northrop Grumman, participate in its development.

Officials warn that missile threats are no longer limited to ballistic weapons. The proliferation of drones, including those supplied by Iran to other actors, adds complexity and heightens the need for advanced tracking and defense systems.

Gabbard said U.S. adversaries closely monitor defense plans and will adjust their strategies accordingly, intensifying the arms race. She stressed that the next decade could bring increased risk to the homeland, and investing in missile defense is a priority.