President Donald Trump signed an executive order on June 22, 2026, in which he set up a federal effort to pursue a quantum computer for scientific discovery. He also called for an updated National Quantum Strategy within 180 days. In Section 4(a) of the order, “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation,” Trump established the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) Effort, coordinated by the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology (APST).
Trump wrote that the effort “shall pursue development of a quantum computer at a scale intended to initiate the era of quantum-enabled scientific discovery.” He stated an intent “to deliver at least one such computer to a Department of Energy facility” and, to the extent possible, to make it available to the scientific community.
In the order, Trump set no delivery date for the computer and gave the Energy secretary 180 days to explore private-sector partnership models to “understand the potential cost, scope, and time frame for delivery” of at least one such computer. In Section 11(b), he made the order’s implementation “subject to the availability of appropriations.”
In a fact sheet issued the same day, the White House described a national effort under the order “to develop the first ever quantum computer powerful enough to initiate the era of quantum-enabled scientific discovery and accelerate quantum capabilities for commercial applications.” The administration “has invested $625 million so far in major national quantum research institutes, in partnership with industry and academia,” the White House wrote.
Deadlines for the computer effort
Under Section 4(c), the Energy secretary, working with the APST and other agencies, has 90 days to identify the technical specifications a QC-ADDS needs for scientific applications “beyond current classical computer capabilities.” Trump described those applications as “on a path towards economically significant applications” and directed the secretary to release a public summary of the specifications, as appropriate.
Under Section 4(b), the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), the head of the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the secretaries of War, Commerce, and Energy must make “relevant capabilities, manufacturing infrastructure, and expertise” available to the effort to the extent practicable. Trump also directed the APST to work with NASA, the National Security Agency, and the heads of other relevant departments to identify further actions for the effort.
Under Section 4(d), the Energy secretary must carry out the 180-day partnership review with the Office of Management and Budget. In the same section, Trump directed the Commerce secretary to develop a plan, “potentially including advance market commitments,” to encourage contributions to the effort from commercial quantum computing companies. In an advance market commitment, a buyer promises ahead of time to purchase a product that meets set requirements.
Trump also directed the Secretary of War to establish or designate activities and programs to build readiness for national security applications of quantum computing, potentially including a center for that purpose. He attached no separate deadline to the Commerce and War tasks.
Under Section 4(e), the Energy secretary, in consultation with the War and Commerce secretaries, has 180 days to establish a national center “to develop the tools and capabilities required to accurately assess the performance of quantum computing systems.” In the same period, the co-chairs of a National Science and Technology Council subcommittee on the economic and security implications of quantum information science must recommend to the APST how agencies could share information to improve the government’s ability to assess commercial quantum computing capabilities.
Under Section 4(f), the DNI and the Secretary of War, consulting the secretaries of State, Commerce, and Energy, must identify “the national security implications of the increasing scale and performance of commercial quantum computers,” including those for the migration to post-quantum cryptography. Post-quantum cryptography refers to algorithms designed to resist attacks by quantum computers. Under Section 10(c), the two officials must report to the president within one year and every year after that.
Strategy and sensors
Under Section 3(a), the APST has 180 days to update the National Quantum Strategy in coordination with the secretaries of War, Commerce, and Energy, the DNI, and the NSF director. Trump called for policies “encouraging partnerships with United States industry” and “promoting commercialization and deployment” of quantum information science and technology.
Under Section 5(a), the Secretary of War has 60 days to identify “at least three next-generation quantum sensor projects to prioritize,” with the aim of fielding the sensors by September 30, 2028. Quantum sensors are instruments that measure time, magnetic fields, gravity, and other quantities through quantum effects in atoms, light, or solid-state materials.
In Sections 6 through 9, Trump directed agencies to act on supply chains, security, the workforce, and international engagement, with deadlines from 90 to 210 days. Section 10 adds one report on that work within 60 days.
First deliverables
The Secretary of War’s list of sensor projects is due by August 21, 2026. The Energy Department’s specifications are due by September 20.
The strategy update, the partnership review, the assessment center, and the information-sharing recommendation are due by December 19. The first report on national security implications is due by June 22, 2027.
Update, November 13, 2026: The Federal Register published the order on June 25 as Executive Order 14413. On September 17, the Energy Department launched its Quantum Genesis Q Competition, which it said supports the order’s goals. DOE described “up to $215 million in planned funding,” including “$2.5 million in Fiscal Year 2026 dollars and outyear funding contingent on congressional appropriations.”
