Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office has reportedly prohibited government officials at the Space & Missile Defense Symposium from mentioning the Golden Dome missile shield — a grand multibillion‑dollar project championed by President Donald Trump.

Politico reported Tuesday that the directive comes as part of a broader Pentagon policy restricting participation in think‑tank and research organization events, a key channel for policy exchange and outside feedback.

A major missile defense conference opened Tuesday in Huntsville, Alabama, but according to Politico, organizers have been barred from discussing the Pentagon’s most high‑profile plan.

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Event spokesperson Bob English told the outlet: “A lot of [attendees] are coming this year because of Golden Dome.”

He added: “Unfortunately, last week, [the Defense secretary’s office] came out and said they don’t want us talking about Golden Dome during the symposium.”

The annual Symposium typically highlights the Pentagon’s missile defense agenda. This year, with roughly 7,300 attendees and 300 exhibitors expected, Missile Defense Agency Chief Lt. Gen. Heath Collins is among the headline speakers.

Still, public affairs officials have quietly instructed event planners to remove all Golden Dome content from sessions until a separate unclassified session on Thursday, per the report.

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Approved in a recent GOP spending bill, Golden Dome was seeded with $25 billion and is projected to cost as much as $175 billion.

In July, the Senate confirmed General Mike Guetlein to lead the newly established Golden Dome office. He is expected to finalize the system’s architecture by mid‑September and conduct its inaugural integrated flight test by late 2028.