US Aims for Usable Quantum Computer by 2028, Bolsters Cryptography Efforts

The United States is accelerating its pursuit of quantum computing dominance with President Donald Trump signing two executive orders aimed at bolstering the nation's capabilities in the field. A key objective is the development of the U.S. government's first quantum computer capable of supporting scientific research, with a target launch date of 2028.

Michael Kratsios, the White House advisor on science and technology, stated that this timeline is considered feasible. While quantum computers already exist, current models suffer from high error rates, limiting their large-scale application, particularly in scientific research. This U.S. government initiative aims to overcome these limitations.

This development comes as leading private sector players, including IBM, Microsoft, and Google, are also striving to bring commercial quantum computers to market, with a projected timeline of 2029. The government's quantum computer, envisioned to have more modest capabilities than its commercial counterparts, will serve as a stepping stone towards larger-scale systems.

Furthermore, one of the executive orders focuses on post-quantum cryptography (PQC), a technology designed to create new coding algorithms resistant to decryption by quantum computers. This addresses the future security challenges posed by the immense computational power of quantum machines. The Department of Energy will define the technical criteria for the government's quantum computer, which is expected to be deployed in Energy Department facilities or government laboratories.