Trump signs orders calling for powerful quantum computer, targeting 2028

WASHINGTON - U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday ordered a major push to develop advanced quantum computing systems for scientific research while strengthening defenses against emerging cyber threats, as Washington intensifies its technological competition with China.

The initiative aims to accelerate U.S. capabilities in quantum technology, which experts say could transform fields such as artificial intelligence, materials science, and cryptography. At the same time, officials warned that the technology could also undermine current encryption systems used to protect sensitive government and private data.

“We believe this can happen by 2028,” said Michael Kratsios, referring to the development timeline for a powerful quantum computer, during a call previewing the announcement.

Trump signed two executive orders, including one directing federal agencies to safeguard government systems against quantum-enabled cyberattacks. The order sets a target of migrating key government computing infrastructure to post-quantum cryptography by 2030 or 2031.

Quantum computers operate using principles of quantum physics, enabling them to process complex calculations far faster than traditional supercomputers. However, their potential to break widely used encryption methods has raised national security concerns among governments and cybersecurity experts.

The directives underscore the administration’s focus on maintaining U.S. leadership in the global quantum race against China, while also mitigating risks tied to future cyber warfare capabilities.

The second executive order also instructs the Department of Defense to deploy quantum sensing technologies by 2028. These sensors could enhance navigation for aircraft operating in environments where GPS signals are disrupted and may also allow satellites to detect underground structures such as tunnels or missile facilities.

“There’s lots of interesting things quantum sensing can bring before quantum computing,” said Matthew Kinsella, chief executive officer of Infleqtion, who attended the signing ceremony at the Oval Office. “It’s possible to meet these types of timelines.”

Separately, the Commerce Department recently announced plans to take $2 billion in equity stakes across nine quantum computing companies, including a new venture involving IBM, as part of broader efforts to strengthen U.S. technological competitiveness.

The administration also outlined measures to enhance international cooperation on intellectual property protection and supply chain security, citing growing concerns over rival nations seeking to undermine U.S. economic and national security interests.

Another directive calls on federal agencies to develop deployment plans for quantum-enabled sensors and networks within the next five years. -Reporting by Jacob Bogage and Alexandra Alper; Editing by Howard Goller and Lincoln Feast./Reuters