US Launches Quantum Genesis Initiative to Advance Computing by 2028

The United States government has introduced a coordinated effort to accelerate the development of advanced quantum computing capabilities, with a target to support scientific research by 2028.

On June 22, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing federal agencies to work with private sector partners and universities to create a quantum computer designed for scientific applications within two years. The order directs multiple agencies to allocate resources and collaborate on quantum research and related technologies.

The Department of Energy announced the Quantum Genesis initiative on June 23, 2026, outlining plans to develop and deploy a fault-tolerant quantum computing platform suitable for research and development. This initiative is part of a broader mission to advance scientific discovery using quantum and artificial intelligence technologies.

The executive order also establishes the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) effort. This program is coordinated by the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and is intended to lead the development of a quantum computer to support scientific discovery.

What the numbers show

• The Quantum Genesis initiative targets a quantum computer by 2028
• The DOE Q Competition aims to demonstrate systems with logical qubits in the low hundreds
• The National Quantum Initiative Act, passed in 2018, set a government-wide strategy for quantum science

The executive order assigns the Department of Energy to host at least one advanced quantum computer. It also requires the Pentagon to prioritize and deploy next-generation quantum sensors by 2028, expanding the scope of quantum technology in national security and defense applications.

Additional directives in the order task the Secretaries of War, Commerce, and Energy, along with the Director of National Intelligence and the National Science Foundation Director, to work together and with the Office of Management and Budget Director. Their goal is to explore and develop quantum-computer-enabled capabilities for use in commercial, government, and security sectors.

The Quantum Genesis initiative includes a DOE Q Competition, which is set to demonstrate fault-tolerant quantum systems with logical qubits numbering in the low hundreds by 2028. This competition is designed to showcase advancements in quantum hardware and software relevant to scientific research.

These efforts build on the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018, which established a comprehensive approach for the United States to maintain leadership in quantum science and technology. The Quantum Genesis initiative forms part of the larger Genesis Mission, which seeks to accelerate progress in multiple scientific fields by leveraging both quantum computing and artificial intelligence.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.