Trump Pushes Quantum Race With New Orders, $500M Funding Boost

Trump signed two executive orders to boost quantum technology in the U.S. One order directs federal agencies, including the Department of Energy, to work with universities and private companies to develop a quantum computer for scientific research by 2028.

The second order focuses on security risks from future quantum computers. It asks government agencies and cybersecurity experts to prepare for a scenario where quantum systems could break current encryption methods earlier than expected and strengthen protections for critical infrastructure.

A new study published in the journal Nature unveiled a quantum sensor that can cancel background noise that normally limits measurement accuracy. This breakthrough could help scientists detect extremely weak signals that were previously impossible to observe.

Researchers say the technology may improve studies of the universe’s composition and help identify new sources of gravitational waves. It could also provide insights into how supermassive black holes formed.

The research was led by Imperial College London. Scientists explained that atom interferometers rely on laser pulses to measure tiny signals, but those laser pulses also create noise that can overwhelm the data. The new sensor significantly reduces that problem.

Separately, the U.S. government awarded SandboxAQ $500 million to develop new chemicals and materials for domestic semiconductor manufacturing, including alternatives to PFAS. The funding is part of CHIPS Act research programs under President Trump. Previous allocations included $150 million for new chip-making equipment and $2 billion for quantum computing projects. SandboxAQ, backed by NVIDIA, was valued at $5.75 billion in April 2025 and has raised more than $1 billion to date.