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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Does the Pentagon want to strengthen a key US missile defense system?

By William Boger
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YES

In its budget request for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, the Missile Defense Agency has asked for $9.2 billion to "refocus" the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense System, a weapons program intended to protect the U.S. mainland.

The missiles have failed in 8 of 18 tests since 1999. Work to strengthen a key component of the $67 billion program was cancelled in 2019. Now the goal is to develop a "layered" approach working with other shorter-range missiles and detection efforts, Defense News reported.

The U.S. at first limited use of missile-defense systems under a treaty with Russia, but the Bush administration changed course following the 9/11 attacks. The U.S. says the GMD system is focused on threats from "rogue" states such as North Korea; 44 interceptors are currently deployed, mostly in Alaska.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Defense News: FY 2021 budget paves way for new homeland missile defense plans
Missile Defense Agency: Budget information
Department of Defense: GMD flight test record
Arms Control Association: National missile defense set back
Boeing: GMD System
Arms Control Association: US missile defenses
Center for Strategic and International Studies: Missile defense in the 2021 budget
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.