Trump’s Executive Order Accelerates Pentagon Quantum Sensor Initiatives

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed two executive orders today aimed at boosting quantum computing, cybersecurity, and sensor technologies, with one directive requiring the Pentagon to deploy three new quantum sensor systems by fall 2028.

The bulk of the military’s involvement is outlined in Executive Order 14411, titled “quantum innovation,” which seeks to preserve a U.S. strategic edge in various quantum technologies. This includes supporting the Energy Department’s effort to construct a functional quantum computer for scientific challenges beyond the reach of classical computing. The order also explores lesser‑known uses of quantum physics, such as secure communications and advanced sensing.

While the extreme sensitivity of quantum particles to environmental noise poses challenges for building error‑free quantum computers, it becomes a significant asset for sensing. This sensitivity enables detectors to discern faint signals that conventional tools overlook. The military has experimented with such sensors in aerial and space environments, envisioning alternative precision‑navigation solutions when GPS is disrupted — a situation increasingly common in conflict zones like Ukraine and the Middle East.

“Quantum sensing is already usable for navigation amid GPS jamming and spoofing,” said Jack Hidary, founder and CEO of quantum‑software company SandBoxAQ, in an interview with Breaking Defense. SandBoxAQ has previously evaluated the technology for the Air Force.

Additional laboratories are investigating the use of quantum sensors to detect hostile submarines without relying on sonar.

The Pentagon has already been testing quantum sensors in the field, but Executive Order 14411 now mandates that it field a selection of these devices with operational units within 27 months. The order directs that, within 60 days of its issuance, the Secretary of War must identify at least three next‑generation quantum sensor projects to prioritize, aiming to have them deployed by September 30, 2028. The document refers to the Department of Defense by its historic title, “Secretary of War.”

The order additionally charges several other agencies — primarily the Departments of Commerce and Energy, NASA, and the National Science Foundation — with investigating quantum sensing as well as quantum networking, a field that has attracted substantial investment in China while receiving comparatively little attention in the United States.

Another major component of Executive Order 14411 calls for the construction of at least one dependable, high‑performance quantum computer for scientific research, to be installed at a yet‑to‑be‑selected Energy Department facility. The Pentagon leads a lengthy list of agencies tasked with supporting this Energy Department quantum‑computing effort, and the NSA is also specifically mentioned.

Accompanying Executive Order 14411 is Executive Order 14409, which aims to strengthen cybersecurity against quantum‑computer‑enabled attacks by mandating the adoption of post‑quantum cryptography (PQC) in place of vulnerable encryption schemes. This order applies solely to civilian agencies and their contractors; national‑security systems are expressly exempted, and the Pentagon’s role is limited to advisory support.

The Defense Department and its contractors have already been advancing post‑quantum cryptography for several years. Consequently, this executive order effectively directs the remainder of the federal government to align its quantum‑cybersecurity posture with that of the Pentagon.

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