DOE Launches ‘Quantum Genesis’ Initiative

The Department of Energy has announced a new initiative to develop and deploy “the world’s first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computing capability” by 2028. The Tuesday announcement followed a pair of executive orders signed by President Donald Trump on Monday to bolster quantum information science and technology and direct the implementation of post-quantum cryptography standards.

DOE said this “Quantum Genesis initiative” will be a foundational element of its larger Genesis Mission, the national effort to advance scientific discovery and technological innovation using artificial intelligence.

“Just as telescopes allowed us to explore the cosmos, advanced quantum computers will enable us to peer into the fundamental laws of nature with unparalleled precision,” DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil said in the press release.

The initiative encompasses three major priorities, according to the announcement. DOE will create a National Quantum Supercomputing User Facility for U.S. scientists and engineers, which, when unified with DOE’s other high-performance computing and AI systems, will form “one of the most powerful discovery platforms ever conceived.” The department will also identify and implement scientific applications of quantum computing, which will guide the development and evaluation of quantum computers, similarly to the National Science and Technology Challenges of the Genesis Mission. Finally, DOE will hold a competition to demonstrate fault-tolerant quantum systems in 2028, targeting “critical scientific applications” including chemistry, materials science, plasma physics, and high-energy physics.

One of the executive orders issued Monday directs Energy Secretary Chris Wright to identify and publicly release the technical specifications required for the planned quantum computer by late September. The computer should have scientific applications “that are on a path towards economically significant applications,” the order states. It also directs DOE to establish, by late December, a national center to develop tools to assess the performance of quantum computing systems.

The order also directs other agencies, including the National Science Foundation, the Commerce Department, and the Department of Defense, to support the effort to build DOE’s new quantum computer.

The executive orders and the DOE announcement do not specify how the Quantum Genesis initiative will be funded, but do appear to encourage industry contributions through public-private partnerships. Some Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the Genesis Mission effectively taking federal funds away from existing DOE research programs. In its appropriations bill report for fiscal year 2027, the House Appropriations Committee expressed support for the goals of the Genesis Mission but requested a briefing on funding for each of its programs and “expected levels of future support” for the Genesis Mission National S&T Challenges. The committee added that it would not fund additional AI supercomputers at DOE until it “gains a better understanding on infrastructure, operations, and outyear funding implications.”

The order on quantum information science also directs NSF, DOE, the Commerce Department, and NASA to prioritize research on applications and hardware for quantum sensing and quantum networking, and to develop five-year plans for these quantum capabilities. The order directs NSF, for example, to focus its plan on basic science research to identify applications of quantum sensing and networking, develop “novel systems-level concepts,” and improve related manufacturing science.

Security and workforce

The quantum information science order directs the State and Commerce departments to collaborate on quantum-related research and development, as well as the protection of critical technologies, with “like-minded countries.” It suggests harmonizing research security and export control policies with international allies and partners to prevent countries of concern from acquiring these technologies. It also directs the FBI to consider expanding its Quantum Information Science and Technology Counterintelligence Protection Team.

To bolster the quantum workforce, the order directs the White House Office of Personnel Management to develop a government-wide quantum recruitment and retention strategy by late September. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy shall engage with industry and academia to expand post-secondary training opportunities for relevant industry jobs, and NSF shall initiate a network of National QIST Workforce Development Institutes to enhance and coordinate quantum training opportunities, the order states. Also, by late October, NSF and the Labor Department are directed to develop an approach to tracking labor statistics for assessing the needs of the U.S. quantum ecosystem.

On the industry side, the order directs NSF to issue grants for establishing quantum user facilities. It also directs several agencies to plan to partner with the private sector to develop related technologies, potentially using prize challenges or by committing to buy or subsidize the technologies once developed. The order also revives the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee and directs OSTP Director Michael Kratsios to recommend a list of members.

Post-quantum cryptography

The second executive order issued Monday focuses on implementing post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards across the federal government. These standards, first released in 2024 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, are designed to protect against attacks by quantum computers.

The order sets two deadlines for agencies to implement PQC standards for “high-value assets” and “high impact systems”: the end of 2030 for key establishment, and the end of 2031 for digital signatures. It directs agency heads to identify their PQC migration leads by late July. NIST is directed to complete a pilot project implementing PQC standards for a subset of its information systems by the end of 2027.

White House Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought and National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross will oversee the PQC transition, the order states. NIST shall provide ongoing technical guidance to agencies on PQC implementation, including best practices and risk management strategies.