Trump signs two executive orders to accelerate arrival of powerful quantum computers

U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for the acceleration of the nascent quantum computing industry, signing a pair of executive orders today aimed at speeding up the technology’s development and simultaneously mitigate any security concerns around them.

The first order tasks federal agencies, including the Energy Department, to collaborate with the private sector and academic organizations to develop a quantum computer that’s powerful enough to accelerate scientific research by 2028. It’s targeting a key milestone that would demonstrate the technology has practical applications.

Quantum computers have the potential to solve computational problems at ungodly speeds, far faster than even the most sophisticated supercomputers are capable of. The technology has become a priority for dozens of countries around the world, and there has been tangible progress in recent years in areas such as stability. However, the industry has not gotten to the point where quantum computers can outperform their classical counterparts yet.

The second executive order signed by Trump directs government agencies and security experts to prepare for quantum systems that can break today’s encryption standards sooner than previously anticipated. The purpose of this order is to speed up the development of quantum-resistant encryption to prevent advanced quantum hackers from taking down critical infrastructure and breaking into the country’s most secure information technology systems.

At the same time, the White House has also directed billions of dollars in funding toward quantum computing companies. The funds will be doled out by the Commerce Department and also private sector firms such as Google LLC, IBM Corp. and Microsoft Corp., which are all pursuing their own quantum computing initiatives. These companies believe that quantum technology will be able to complement advances in artificial intelligence and potentially enable the development of more capable quantum models.

“We are going to be investing in American quantum leadership like never before,” Trump said at a ceremony as he signed the orders. He added that the goal is to extend America’s lead in the quantum computing industry, building on earlier investments in the sector that date back to his first term as President.

A number of top tech industry executives were present at the signing ceremony at the Oval Office today, including IBM Chief Executive Arvind Krishna and Google parent company Alphabet Inc.’s President Ruth Porat.

The likes of Google and IBM are at the forefront of the quantum computing push, but they’re not necessarily in the lead, for the industry has also attracted dozens of startups pursuing promising approaches of their own. The shares of publicly traded quantum companies have surged in recent months, and venture capital has been flowing into the sector, but they must overcome significant hurdles before they can fulfill their promise.

A spokesperson for Nvidia Corp. told SiliconANGLE that quantum computing has become a key strategic technology for America. “As AI, supercomputing and quantum technologies come together, reliable quantum systems that can solve real scientific problems are getting closer,” the company said. “America’s leadership will depend on pairing the right computing platforms with the talent and partnerships needed to move quantum systems from the lab into practical use.”

Trump’s order calls for the creation of a quantum computing system that can advance scientific research within just two years. That system will provide a stepping stone toward even more sophisticated quantum machines that can carry out tasks for businesses, a White House official said. The order directs the Energy Department, which already conducts extensive research into quantum computing, to identify the technical specifications required to achieve this goal.

Trump also wants the Commerce and Defense departments to deploy quantum sensors, which rely on quantum mechanics, as an alternative to existing satellite-based global positioning systems within the next five years. It’s believed that the technology will be resistant to the techniques that could potentially be used by foreign adversaries to jam GPS systems.

As for the second order focused on security, this directs government agencies to develop quantum hacking-resistant systems by 2031 at the latest. That’s a lot sooner than the 2035 target set by former President Joe Biden during his term in office. The order also prioritizes plans to harden critical infrastructure, including power and water plants.

“This executive order matters because it puts dates on a security transition that can no longer stay theoretical,” said Rebecca Krauthamer, CEO of the quantum security company QuSecure. “This is not a simple software patch. It is a multiyear migration of the cryptographic foundations that protect government systems, contractor networks, critical infrastructure and the data security modern society depends on.”

Photo: IBM