Key Quantum Provision Dropped from 2025 NDAA. (ALGORITHMIC WARFARE)

• Date: 01 February 2025
• Author: Luckenbaugh, Josh
• Published date: 01 February 2025

When then-President Joe Biden signed the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act on Dec. 23, it arrived at his desk without a major provision to accelerate the Defense Department's development of quantum technology.

The Defense Quantum Acceleration Act was introduced in April 2024 by Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., and Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and called for the Defense Department to appoint a principal quantum advisor to the secretary of defense to develop a strategic roadmap, as well as the establishment of a technology testbed to enable the transition of near-term quantum capabilities.

"There's a lot of research that still has to happen" regarding quantum technology, and "some of these technologies are more advanced than others," said Allison Schwartz, vice president of global government relations and public affairs at quantum computing company D-Wave Quantum Inc. As different quantum technologies become more advanced, the program established by the bill would allow them to cross the acquisitions "Valley of Death" and become viable military applications, she said.

Initially introduced as a standalone bill, the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act was then put into the House version of the 202s National Defense Authorization Act. However, the final version of the NDAA replaced the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act with a report asking how the Defense Department could use quantum technologies, Schwartz said.

"There has been a lot of reports"...