The White House wants the US quantum race to move from theory to hardware… and it has set a deadline.
On June 22, President Donald Trump signed two executive orders aimed at accelerating US quantum technology, including a 2028 target for a research-ready quantum computer and a 2031 deadline for civilian federal systems to move to post-quantum encryption. The directives span advanced computing, cybersecurity, quantum sensors, workforce development, and domestic manufacturing.
The orders frame quantum technology as both an economic prize and a national security problem: the same machines that could unlock new scientific discoveries may eventually threaten the encryption protecting government networks.
A new 2028 research deadline
The first executive order establishes the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) Effort. The initiative directs federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, to work with academia and tech companies to deploy a quantum computer capable of supporting scientific research by 2028.
The administration intends to place at least one of these high-powered systems at a Department of Energy facility and open its use to the scientific community.
The order also signals an aggressive push into hardware deployment, directing the Commerce and Defense departments to field at least three next-generation quantum sensors within five years. These advanced sensors leverage quantum mechanics to operate independently of traditional global-positioning systems, providing a vital alternative in conflict zones where GPS jamming is prevalent.
To sustain this growth, the order outlines a cohesive "whole-of-government approach" to eliminate manufacturing barriers and secure domestic supply chains. The strategy includes a mandate for the Office of Personnel Management to draft a government-wide recruitment plan, featuring special pay rates, to attract and retain elite quantum talent.
Strengthening national security by 2031
The second executive order addresses the looming national security threats posed by advanced quantum systems, which experts warn will eventually be able to break standard encryption algorithms.
The directive mandates that civilian federal networks fully migrate to post-quantum encryption by 2031. This dramatically accelerates the previous 2035 transition deadline established under the Biden administration. Any federal agencies failing to meet the new 2031 benchmark will be required to submit a formal report to the Office of Management and Budget explaining the delay.
The order also expands the Quantum Information Science and Technology Counterintelligence Protection Team (QCPT) to defend domestic research, industry, and academic institutions against foreign cyber threats and espionage.
The bigger picture
Quantum computers promise to solve certain problems far faster than today's supercomputers. That potential has set off a global race, with companies like IBM, Microsoft, and Google pouring money into the field alongside a wave of startups.
Shares of quantum-focused companies have climbed sharply in recent months, even as some experts caution that the technology still has major technical hurdles ahead before it lives up to the hype.
The White House orders give federal agencies a clearer quantum timeline, but the hardest part will be execution. Building useful quantum systems, securing supply chains, recruiting talent, and migrating encryption across government networks are all long-haul projects.
The next test is whether the administration can turn the deadlines into deployable technology before rivals, attackers, or technical limits move faster.
Also read: What’s really inside Trump’s gold smartphone became clearer after an iFixit teardown traced the device to HTC hardware.