President Donald Trump has signed two executive orders aimed at turning quantum technologies into operational military tools and preserving the United States’ technological edge over rivals, especially China. The plan calls for advanced quantum sensors, a national quantum computer, and faster defenses against future cyber threats.
The core order, focused on “quantum innovation,” directs the U.S. government to invest in quantum sensors, networks and computers, with coordination among the Pentagon, the Department of Energy, NASA, the Commerce Department and other federal bodies. Trump ordered the Pentagon to identify at least three next-generation quantum sensor projects within 60 days and give them national priority, with the goal of fielding them to operational forces by September 30, 2028.
Quantum sensors, once considered experimental, can detect extremely small environmental changes and may outperform conventional systems. The Pentagon sees major battlefield uses, including navigation without GPS, a capability viewed as especially important as GPS jamming and spoofing have become common in conflicts such as the war in Ukraine. The technology is also being studied in U.S. laboratories for submarine detection, space missions, intelligence, missile defense and other advanced sensing roles.
The second order focuses on cybersecurity, warning that powerful future quantum computers could break much of today’s encryption used by banks, tech companies, governments and security organizations. The administration is pushing civilian agencies toward “post-quantum cryptography,” while the Defense Department has already begun that transition. In parallel, the Energy Department has been told to establish at least one advanced quantum computer for scientific research, with support from the Pentagon, the National Security Agency and other agencies.
