Trump Orders Quantum Computer by 2028, Accelerates Post-Quantum Cryptography

President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on June 22, 2026, that redefine the U.S. quantum strategy, marking a milestone in the country's technology policy. The first order, 'Accelerating Leadership in Quantum Computing,' instructs federal agencies to collaborate with industry and academia to build a research-grade quantum computer by 2028. The second order, 'Transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography,' moves the deadline for all federal agencies to migrate to cryptographic standards resistant to quantum attacks from 2035 to 2031. Additionally, a $2 billion grant fund for quantum computing projects is established, conditioned on the government receiving equity stakes in beneficiary companies. This measure, unprecedented in R&D programs of this scale, aims to align public and private interests but also sparks debate over state control in strategic sectors.

These orders represent a significant shift in U.S. technology policy, with implications beyond basic research. Quantum computing promises to revolutionize fields such as cryptography, drug discovery, materials science, and artificial intelligence. However, it also poses existential risks: a sufficiently powerful quantum computer could break current encryption systems (RSA, ECC) using algorithms like Shor's, compromising national security, financial systems, and citizen privacy. By moving the cryptographic migration deadline from 2035 to 2031, the government seeks to protect against this threat, forcing agencies to adopt standards like those from NIST (e.g., CRYSTALS-Kyber and Dilithium) earlier than planned. The inclusion of equity stakes in grants is a controversial measure that gives the government direct influence in strategic companies, which could accelerate development but also create tensions over intellectual property and corporate autonomy.

Why Is This Important?

The importance of these orders lies in their potential to redefine global technological leadership. Quantum computing is seen as the next technological frontier, and countries like China have invested billions in quantum research centers, such as the National Laboratory for Quantum Information Sciences in Hefei. The United States, through the National Quantum Initiative Act (2018), had already allocated $1.2 billion over five years, but these new orders double the financial commitment and add a more aggressive timeline. The accelerated cryptographic migration deadline responds to intelligence reports suggesting that China could have a quantum computer capable of breaking RSA-2048 by 2030, according to an analysis by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET). Moreover, the government's equity stake could set a precedent for future investments in critical technologies, such as artificial intelligence or biotechnology, creating a hybrid public-private funding model.

Consequences for Companies and Users

For technology companies, these orders mean an injection of funds and regulatory impetus. Companies like IBM (planning a 1,000-qubit quantum system by 2025), Google (with its Sycamore processor), Microsoft (with its topological qubit approach), and startups like IonQ (already offering commercial systems) and Rigetti (with superconducting chips) will benefit from the $2 billion in grants, but at the cost of ceding equity to the government. This could accelerate quantum hardware development but also create tensions over intellectual property and control of the technology roadmap. For non-tech companies, migrating to post-quantum cryptography will involve significant costs: according to a Deloitte report, updating cryptographic systems in a Fortune 500 company can cost between $10 million and $50 million. End users will feel the impact gradually: online banking, encrypted communications, and digital identity systems will need to migrate to new standards, though the 2031 deadline allows time for transition. However, a lack of public awareness about quantum risk could create vulnerabilities if private companies do not prepare in time.

Historical Context and Comparisons

These orders resemble the Apollo project (which landed a man on the Moon) or the 'Operation Warp Speed' vaccine program in terms of ambition and funding. However, unlike those, here the government seeks equity stakes, reminiscent of the 2008 bank bailouts (TARP) but in an emerging industry. Previously, the Biden administration had set looser deadlines for post-quantum cryptography (2035) and had not tied grants to equity. Trump's acceleration reflects an urgency to maintain leadership against China, which according to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) invests $10 billion annually in quantum. Comparatively, U.S. investment in 2025 was about $4 billion, according to McKinsey. The equity stake model has also been used in programs like NASA's with SpaceX (service contracts), but not in R&D grants, which could create friction with companies that prefer to maintain their independence.

'We are witnessing a paradigm shift: the government is not only funding but becoming a shareholder in the companies that will build the quantum future,' comments an analyst from The Next Web. This statement underscores the tension between driving innovation and the risk of bureaucratizing the sector.

What Readers Should Know

Readers should understand that quantum computing is still experimental; the 2028 target is ambitious but not impossible. Experts like John Preskill (Caltech) believe that achieving a fault-tolerant quantum computer with enough power for research still requires advances in error correction and scalability. The cryptographic migration will affect all digital systems, so companies and users should start planning to update their security protocols. NIST has already published final standards (FIPS 203, 204, 205) in 2024, and it is recommended to begin the transition now. Additionally, government equity in private companies raises questions about the balance between innovation and state control, a debate that will intensify if the model extends to other technologies. In summary, these executive orders are a bold step that could accelerate the arrival of the quantum era, but they also carry geopolitical, economic, and governance risks that society must address.