WASHINGTON — President Trump signed two executive orders on Monday to accelerate the federal government’s quantum-computing efforts, setting ambitious deadlines for developing advanced systems and protecting critical infrastructure from the security threats the technology presents.
Trump said at the signing ceremony that the measures would extend the nation’s lead in the field. “We are going to be investing in American quantum leadership like never before,” he said.
One order directs federal agencies — including the Energy Department — to work with private companies and academic researchers to deploy a quantum computer capable of conducting scientific research by 2028. The Energy Department, which operates extensive quantum research programs, is to identify the technical specifications needed to measure progress toward that goal. The administration views the 2028 target as a steppingstone toward larger systems that could eventually handle business applications, a senior White House official said.
Quantum computers can solve certain problems far faster than traditional supercomputers, making them a strategic priority for governments worldwide. The U.S. has invested billions of dollars in the sector, with the Commerce Department awarding substantial funding to quantum companies and private-sector investment surging from technology giants including IBM, Microsoft, and Google.
The second executive order directs agencies and government security experts to prepare for quantum systems capable of breaking standard encryption faster than previously anticipated. It sets a 2031 deadline for hardening government security systems and critical infrastructure — utilities, water plants, and other essential networks — against quantum-enabled hacking. The previous target, established during the Biden administration, was 2035.
“This executive order matters because it puts dates on a security transition that can no longer stay theoretical,” said Rebecca Krauthamer, chief executive of QuSecure, a quantum security company.
Trump also directed the Commerce and Defense departments to deploy quantum sensors within five years. Those sensors use quantum mechanics to offer alternatives to traditional GPS, and a senior administration official said the technology could have applications in space exploration and military conflicts where GPS jamming is common.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 51,564.7 on Monday.
The White House teased the orders earlier in the day with a post on its X account that said, “White House will be Q posting today…,” followed by a long space and then “and by Q we mean quantum.” The post appeared to reference the message format used by the QAnon conspiracy-theory group.
Tech executives including IBM Chief Executive Arvind Krishna and Ruth Porat, president of Google parent Alphabet, attended the Oval Office signing.
The latest orders build on government investments in quantum technology that date to Trump’s first term. Companies are betting on quantum computing as a promising sector that can complement advances in artificial intelligence. Shares of many publicly traded quantum companies have surged in recent months, though some industry skeptics have cautioned that the field still faces significant technical hurdles.