President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Monday, June 22, aimed at accelerating the development of the nascent quantum computing industry. These orders seek to speed up the arrival of powerful quantum computers and lay the groundwork for federal agencies to adopt the technology.
The initiatives task federal agencies, including the Energy Department, to collaborate with academia and the private sector. The goal is to build a powerful quantum computer for scientific research, utilizing technology that could upend science and cybersecurity.
Simultaneously, the executive orders focus on strengthening U.S. defenses against cyberattacks and protecting government systems from related threats. These measures are intended to mitigate the security risks posed by the development of advanced computers.
This push bolsters U.S. efforts in a race with China for a technology that has the potential to fundamentally transform both scientific research and cybersecurity.