Sponsors (2)
The bill expedites fielding and domestic development of advanced quantum sensors—strengthening military capability and the U.S. quantum industrial base—while increasing public costs and steering research and markets toward defense priorities that may favor large firms and constrain international collaboration.
U.S. servicemembers will likely gain improved battlefield sensing capability because three next‑generation quantum sensor projects are being prioritized for fielding by Sept 30, 2028.
U.S. technology firms, researchers, and entrepreneurs are likely to see expanded domestic market opportunities and prototyping capacity as the bill promotes domestic foundry access, advance commitments, and prize/partnership incentives for quantum components.
Federal agencies will be better coordinated to identify legislative or administrative fixes to unblock quantum supply‑chain hurdles, potentially smoothing commercialization and scale‑up pathways.
Taxpayers may face higher defense and research spending to accelerate prioritized quantum projects and expand foundry access.
Scientists, researchers, and commercial developers may have their work steered toward defense applications, reducing emphasis and incentives for purely civilian uses of quantum technology.
Smaller companies and startups could be disadvantaged by rapid timelines (60–180 days) and large program requirements, favoring larger firms with existing capacity to respond quickly.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs near‑term interagency actions to prioritize quantum sensor projects, spur U.S. quantum component development, and expand access to domestic quantum foundry resources.
Official title: Require the Secretary of Defense to support development of quantum technologies, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 27, 2026 by Marion Michael Rounds · Last progress July 27, 2026
Directs the Department of Defense and other federal agencies to take near-term actions to speed U.S. development of quantum technologies, strengthen domestic supply chains, and expand access to Department‑sponsored quantum foundry resources. It sets specific short deadlines for identifying priority quantum sensor projects, producing an interagency private‑sector partnership plan, and improving domestic access to quantum-related facilities and supply chains. Requires the Secretary of Defense, plus the Secretaries of Commerce and Energy and the NSF Director in coordination with OSTP and OMB, to identify prioritized projects and develop a plan for public‑private partnerships, market incentives, and any needed legislative or administrative steps, with most deliverables due within 60–180 days of enactment and fielding goals by September 30, 2028.