Trump signs landmark executive order investing in quantum computing and cryptography security

President Donald Trump announced a pair of executive orders investing in quantum computing Monday, moving forward an unprecedented partnership between government and industry while simultaneously moving to secure the U.S. from cryptographic threats.

The first executive order, titled "Ushering In The Next Frontier Of Quantum Innovation," outlined a strategy to update the National Quantum Strategy by "promoting commercialization and deployment of" quantum technologies and partnering with industry leaders.

To drive that point, Trump signed the order in the Oval Office alongside executives from technology companies with vested quantum interests, including IBM and Google parent company Alphabet.

Furthermore, the directive mandates administration officials from the Departments of Energy and War, the director of national intelligence (DNI) and the director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) "a summary of steps taken to align their processes, policies, and programs with" the National Quantum Strategy.

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It also kickstarts a national effort to develop a working quantum computer to be delivered to the Department of Energy for use and, "to the extent possible, make it available to the scientific community."

Furthermore, Trump's order directed NASA and other agencies to probe the development of quantum-enabled sensors, a technology that, if successfully adopted, could have significant military and defense applications.

Quantum computers can perform exponentially greater amounts of calculations at one time when compared to even the most advanced modern supercomputers today. This application makes them a potential threat to cryptographically secure information involving global finances, state secrets and digital communications.

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This fact underscores the second executive order Trump signed Monday, "Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks." This order directed OMB and the national cyber director to "lead an accelerated, nationwide migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), ensuring our Nation and our data stay secure as quantum technology evolves."

Joining Trump in the Oval Office, in addition to Alphabet President Ruth Porat and IBM CEO Arvind Krishna, were Nobel Prize-winning physicist John Martinis, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Energy Secretary Chris Wright.

Lutnick highlighted the administration's late May move to direct $2 billion from the CHIPS and Science Act to quantum computing companies.

"Besides investing in the companies we've also invested in fabs to build quantum for others so we can manufacture these quantum in America," Lutnick said, pointing to the decision to invest directly in an IBM fab, a machine that can manufacture quantum-capable chips.

"We're already the leader by a lot. We're gonna be, now, the leader by a lot more," Trump also said during the signing.