Trump Signs Executive Orders to Accelerate U.S. Quantum Computer Push, Racing with China for...

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive new effort to accelerate the development of quantum computing and strengthen America's cyber defenses, signaling that Washington increasingly views the emerging technology as a strategic battleground that could reshape economic competitiveness, military capabilities, and global technological leadership.

Trump on Monday signed two executive orders aimed at speeding the development of a large-scale quantum computer while preparing government systems for the cybersecurity disruptions the technology could unleash.

The move comes as competition between the United States and China intensifies across a range of advanced technologies, from artificial intelligence and semiconductors to quantum computing, which many scientists regard as the next major frontier in computing power.

"We believe this can happen by 2028," Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said during a briefing on the administration's plans, referring to the goal of developing a powerful quantum computer capable of delivering scientific breakthroughs beyond the reach of conventional systems.

The administration's initiative emerges from a growing consensus among policymakers that quantum computing is no longer a distant scientific experiment but an emerging technology with potentially profound implications for national security and economic power.

Unlike conventional computers, which process information using binary bits represented by zeros and ones, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This allows them to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than even the world's most powerful supercomputers.

Such capabilities could transform industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and materials science to energy and logistics. Researchers believe quantum machines could dramatically shorten the time required to discover new drugs, design advanced materials, optimize supply chains, and model complex chemical reactions.

However, the same technology poses one of the most significant cybersecurity threats governments have ever faced.

Current encryption systems that protect banking networks, government databases, military communications, and digital commerce rely on mathematical problems that are extremely difficult for traditional computers to solve. Quantum computers could eventually crack many of these encryption standards, potentially exposing sensitive information worldwide.

Recognizing that threat, one of Trump's executive orders establishes an ambitious timetable for migrating critical federal systems to post-quantum cryptography, with agencies expected to complete the transition by 2030 or 2031. The initiative is designed to protect government networks against future attacks from quantum-enabled adversaries.

The concern extends beyond future risks. Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned about a "harvest now, decrypt later" strategy, in which hostile actors collect encrypted government and corporate data today in anticipation of eventually gaining access to quantum computers capable of unlocking it.

The administration's actions, therefore, indicate both a race to build the technology and a race to defend against it. The new orders also highlight how quantum computing has become a central pillar of Washington's broader technology strategy.

Last month, the Commerce Department announced plans to take approximately $2 billion in equity stakes across nine quantum-computing companies, including a new venture involving IBM. The investment underscored the administration's willingness to deploy industrial policy tools similar to those used to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The latest executive actions build on those efforts by directing federal agencies to develop plans over the next five years for deploying quantum-enabled sensors and communication networks. Such technologies could have significant defense applications. Quantum sensors may provide unprecedented precision in navigation, surveillance, and battlefield detection, while quantum communications could create highly secure networks resistant to interception.

Another element of the administration's strategy focuses on protecting intellectual property and supply chains. Kratsios said the executive orders call for stronger international cooperation on intellectual property protection and supply-chain security in response to what the administration describes as efforts by competitors and adversaries to undermine U.S. economic and national security interests.

That language underpins longstanding concerns in Washington about China's efforts to gain technological advantages in strategically important sectors.

China has invested heavily in quantum research for more than a decade and is widely regarded as America's principal competitor in the field. Beijing has poured billions of dollars into quantum laboratories, communication networks, and research institutions, while Chinese scientists have achieved notable breakthroughs in quantum communications and experimental computing.

Many analysts view the competition as analogous to previous races involving nuclear technology, space exploration, and advanced semiconductors. The country that first develops practical, large-scale quantum computing capabilities could gain significant advantages in scientific discovery, military applications, and economic productivity.

The technology is also increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence. Quantum systems could eventually accelerate AI training and optimization, helping to solve computational problems that are currently prohibitively expensive. That prospect has made quantum computing particularly attractive as governments and companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure.

However, despite rapid advances, today's quantum computers remain prone to errors and are generally limited in scale. Experts continue to debate how quickly the industry can achieve fault-tolerant systems capable of delivering commercial and strategic value.

Trump administration officials nevertheless appear convinced that the breakthrough may arrive sooner than many expect.

The White House's 2028 target reflects growing optimism that advances in hardware, error correction, and system design could move quantum computing from research labs into practical deployment within the next several years.