Lawmakers expected to reintroduce quantum initiative authorization
Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Todd Young, R-Ind., at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Feb. 9, 2023. The two lawmakers are expected to reintroduce the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act this week. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative Act would support advanced quantum information sciences research across the federal government.
The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act has been drafted and is expected to be introduced this week after struggling to gain traction in previous years following the original National Quantum Initiative’s expiration in late 2023, two people familiar with the matter told Nextgov/FCW.
Reintroduced by Sens. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Todd Young, R-Ind., the new bill comes as quantum technology, particularly quantum computing, is expected to pose a significant threat to current cryptographic security schemes.
The NQIA was initially signed into law by President Donald Trump during his first term in office in 2018. The reauthorization initially passed out of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee back in 2023, but stalled after.
In his second term, the Trump administration has continued to prioritize quantum technology and science policy, and has been in the process of crafting an executive action that is expected to update federal agency timelines to complete their migrations to a post-quantum resilient cryptographic standard.
In 2025, industry partners vocalized their support for the reauthorization of the NQIA, citing a need for continued funding for agencies like the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation to continue research programming into quantum technologies.