The world is at the brink of a quantum revolution, and America’s quantum technology lead is narrowing rapidly. The United Nations recently proclaimed 2025 as the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, predicting that quantum will be a “key cross-cutting scientific field of the 21st century” with “tremendous impact on critical social challenges.” Yet just when the global quantum ecosystem is nearing significant technical breakthroughs, the United States’ historic edge in the technology is diminishing.
Incoming President Donald Trump has a unique opportunity to reverse this trend and should act quickly in the first 100 days to reinvigorate America’s quantum competitiveness. Technology competition is a defining feature of today’s geopolitical landscape and the strategic competition between the United States and China. Quantum—a technology with extraordinary economic and military potential—is set to play an outsized role in determining which country prevails. China already outperforms the United States in quantum communications and is making rapid progress in other subsets of quantum technology as well. But there are critical steps that the incoming administration can still take to win the quantum race.
Winning the Quantum Race
Quantum technology is an interdisciplinary field that combines quantum mechanics and information theory to produce new types of computers, sensors, and networks. The speed, precision, and functionality of quantum technologies far exceed that of classical technologies, which could help unlock transformative advancements across a range of industries. The far-reaching potential of quantum technology is what makes it so powerful—the countries with the best quantum technologies will also have the best pharmaceuticals, batteries, fertilizers, intelligence collection, and weapons systems. Quantum technology leadership enhances overall national competitiveness while lagging in quantum could mean falling behind in vital sectors, from energy to pharmaceuticals to material design and agriculture.
Given its prospective impact, quantum has become a key battleground in the technology competition between the United States and China. The first-mover benefits associated with quantum technologies are substantial. The first country to scale, commercialize, and integrate quantum will unlock a toolkit of capabilities—such as the ability to crack public key encryption or conduct complex surveillance operations—that non-quantum equipped adversaries will struggle to counter. The country leading in quantum also will possess science and engineering expertise that is extremely difficult to cultivate and could take competitors years to replicate.
The quantum frontrunner could even establish early market dominance, set technology standards, and shape governance frameworks that influence whether quantum technologies are used to promote or undermine democratic principles. Absent action to boost America’s quantum competitiveness, the United States risks repeating mistakes made in the race to develop and deploy 5G technology. The United States’ failure to outpace China in 5G means that Chinese firms now connect 80 percent of global 5G devices, maintain 70 percent of 5G base stations, and hold one third of 5G-related “standard-essential” patents. At a minimum, this China-dominated ecosystem challenges U.S. companies’ ability to compete abroad, complicates the United States’ ability to partner with countries dependent on potentially compromised Chinese infrastructure, and reduces U.S. influence over the ways in which 5G technologies are employed.
The United States can leverage several advantages to avoid a similar outcome in quantum. The United States is widely considered the global leader in two of the three quantum technology subsets—quantum computing and quantum sensing—thanks to its cohesive national quantum strategy, top-notch research facilities, diverse quantum industry, high private investment, and consistent output of quality quantum-relevant publications. But China is closing the gap. The Chinese Communist Party pours dramatically more public funding into general quantum technology research and development (R&D) than the United States, Chinese researchers publish more frequently than their U.S. counterparts, and Chinese scientists have achieved several notable technical breakthroughs.
China is already using its dominance in the third quantum technology subset—quantum communications—to support broader geopolitical objectives. In January 2024, Chinese scientists announced the establishment of a 3,800-kilometer quantum network connecting Urumqi to Moscow, Russia. China and Russia reportedly plan to expand the network to Brazil, India, and South Africa, which would render communications and data sharing between the BRICS partners unbreakable. In short, China actively intends to undermine the United States’ strengths and become the global quantum superpower.
Recommendations for the Next U.S. Administration
The incoming Trump Administration has a responsibility and rare opportunity to tip the quantum scales in the United States’ favor. Changes in presidential administrations present a unique chance to readjust national security priorities, reallocate resources, and set a new tone for U.S. policy. The new administration can signal American strength in quantum technology by taking a few immediate actions to boost the U.S. quantum ecosystem.
First, the administration should award implementation funding to The Bloch Tech Hub, one of the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s (EDA) two quantum-focused Tech Hubs. The Tech Hubs Program coalesces relevant regional institutions to “manufacture, commercialize, and deploy technology that will advance American competitiveness.” The Bloch—led by the Chicago Quantum Exchange and located across Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin—seeks to advance quantum computing and communications technology, “enabling new solutions for sectors such as finance, energy, biotechnology, and manufacturing.” If successful, The Bloch could play a key role in driving U.S. quantum technology research, broadening the United States’ pool of quantum talent, and improving supply chain security.
Though The Bloch received a $500,000 Consortium Accelerator Award in July 2024, it was not included on the EDA’s list of recipients of $504 million in Tech Hub Program implementation support. Elevate Quantum—the EDA’s second quantum-specific Tech Hub—was included on the list and noted that implementation funding helped attract additional private capital, secure new consortia participants, and establish world-class quantum facilities. Similar support for The Bloch is critical for the hub to deliver on its promise to accelerate the development and adoption of quantum technologies.
Second, the president should pressure Congress to pass the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. The House Science, Space and Technology Committee unanimously approved the legislation in November 2023, which has continued slowly moving through the House. But the status of the Senate’s version—which is not yet publicly available—is unknown.
The National Quantum Initiative (NQI)— initially enacted in 2018 for a five-year period—launched a whole-of-government, coordinated approach to quantum R&D, established various funding mechanisms for quantum technology, and legislated quantum oversight authority to specific government bodies. The reauthorization would build upon the NQI and address its weaknesses by appropriating funds for new quantum institutes and foundries, workforce development, supply chain diversification, and the transition from fundamental research to more advanced R&D and commercialization. U.S. quantum leadership hinges on reauthorization of the NQI and the president cannot afford further delays to get it across the finish line.
Finally, the new administration should establish a quantum-focused international body to enhance cooperation between the United States and its allies on quantum R&D, supply chain security, workforce development, standards, and regulation. Such cooperation is important because no single country holds all of the keys to the quantum puzzle—quantum technology is deeply international with globally diffused talent, infrastructure, and industrial capabilities. Like-minded countries must maximize their comparative advantages to outpace competitors in the race to produce the most advanced quantum technologies.
Most U.S. international engagement on quantum technology has taken the form of bilateral agreements negotiated by the U.S. Department of State, such as those with Japan, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Bilateral agreements are valuable, but comprehensive multilateral frameworks—none of which currently exist—are equally important, particularly as countries begin to implement and attempt to align quantum technology export controls. The international body for quantum could model the spirit of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council or the Chip 4 Alliance and should include representatives from government, industry, and academia.
The United States’ long-standing supremacy in quantum technology—a bedrock of U.S. economic and national security—is in peril at an important inflection point. Quantum technologies are rapidly nearing market readiness and U.S. adversaries are more determined than ever to beat the United States to the quantum punch. But the change in administration presents a unique opportunity to reassert American leadership in quantum and shape a brighter future. The incoming Trump Administration can seize the moment by fully resourcing the Tech Hubs Program, passing the NQI reauthorization, and leveraging the power of the United States’ alliances.