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.
