Quantum National Security Coordination and Competition Act of 2025
The Quantum National Security Coordination and Competition Act of 2025 would require the Secretary of Defense to establish or designate a single office to lead all Department of Defense (DoD) quantum activities. The new office, the Department of Defense Office of Quantum Capabilities and Competition, would oversee quantum research, development, application, and policy with the goal of advancing U.S. national security and achieving a competitive edge over other nations. The act also creates a dedicated Quantum Coordination Office for National Security to liaise with other federal agencies and deconflict efforts where feasible. In addition, the bill mandates regular, classified reporting to Congress on the state of U.S. and adversary quantum capabilities, including a first-year annex focused on quantum communications and a strategic roadmap outlining near-term and long-term steps to close gaps and outpace competitors such as China, Russia, and Iran. The reporting is structured to occur at least once every three years, with initial reporting due within a year of enactment. The legislation emphasizes national security and interagency coordination while preserving existing laws and policies. Sponsor information: Introduced in the Senate on April 8, 2025, by Senator Hassan (with Senator Blackburn) and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.
Key Points
- 1Establishment of the DoD Office of Quantum Capabilities and Competition within 180 days, to lead all DoD quantum efforts (research, development, application, and policy) and to pursue a U.S. national security advantage in quantum technologies.
- 2The Office’s primary mission includes coordinating DoD quantum research, developing quantum capabilities for national security use, gaining competitive advantage over other nations, and enabling real-world DoD applications.
- 3Creation of a Quantum Coordination Office for National Security as a subcomponent of the Office to coordinate and, when possible, deconflict quantum efforts with other U.S. government entities involved in quantum science, technology, or research.
- 4Requirement for triennial, classified reports to Congress on national security quantum capabilities and competition, including detailed sections on DoD efforts, adversaries’ efforts (China, Russia, Iran, etc.), and a comparative assessment; the first report must include an annex on quantum communications with plans to close gaps and outpace competitors over 2-year and 10-year horizons.
- 5The reporting framework directs consideration of hypothetical adversary use in conflicts (including hybrid warfare) and lays out practical pathways to enhance U.S. quantum capabilities in the near and long term.
- 6The act includes a rule of construction clarifying it does not compel actions contrary to existing law or pre-enactment policy, and all reporting would be submitted in classified form to appropriate committees of Congress.