Key facts
- President Trump signed executive orders to accelerate quantum computing development and commercialization.
- Federal agencies are mandated to adopt post-quantum cryptography by 2031.
- The orders aim to protect sensitive data from future quantum threats and maintain U.S. leadership in quantum information sciences.
- The FBI and intelligence community will be tasked with protecting U.S. quantum research from foreign adversaries.
- The Departments of Energy and Defense will build and host a quantum computer for scientific research.
- The Commerce Department will develop plans to increase federal investment in quantum computing companies.
President Donald Trump has signed executive orders aimed at accelerating the development and commercialization of quantum computing and quantum information science and technology (QIST). These orders mandate federal agencies to adopt post-quantum cryptography by 2031 to safeguard sensitive data against potential quantum-assisted cryptographic attacks. The initiative seeks a unified government approach to bolster national security and maintain U.S. leadership in QIST, especially in light of China's increasing quantum ambitions. The FBI and intelligence community will be tasked with protecting U.S. quantum research from foreign adversaries, with the Departments of Energy and Defense directed to build and host a quantum computer for scientific research. The Commerce Department will also develop plans to expand federal investment in quantum computing companies. Agencies are required to update the National Quantum Strategy within 180 days to support industry partnerships and identify implications of advanced commercial quantum computers. The orders also establish the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) to foster quantum-enabled scientific discovery.