U.S. President Donald Trump has launched an aggressive new effort to accelerate the development of quantum computing and strengthen America’s cyber defenses, signaling that Washington increasingly views the emerging technology as a strategic battleground that could reshape economic competitiveness, military capabilities, and global technological leadership.

Trump on Monday signed two executive orders aimed at speeding the development of a large-scale quantum computer while preparing government systems for the cybersecurity disruptions the technology could unleash.

The move comes as competition between the United States and China intensifies across a range of advanced technologies, from artificial intelligence and semiconductors to quantum computing, which many scientists regard as the next major frontier in computing power.

“We believe this can happen by 2028,” Michael Kratsios, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, said during a briefing on the administration’s plans, referring to the goal of developing a powerful quantum computer capable of delivering scientific breakthroughs beyond the reach of conventional systems.

The administration’s initiative emerges from a growing consensus among policymakers that quantum computing is no longer a distant scientific experiment but an emerging technology with potentially profound implications for national security and economic power.

Unlike conventional computers, which process information using binary bits represented by zeros and ones, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This allows them to perform certain calculations exponentially faster than even the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

Such capabilities could transform industries ranging from pharmaceuticals and materials science to energy and logistics. Researchers believe quantum machines could dramatically shorten the time required to discover new drugs, design advanced materials, optimize supply chains, and model complex chemical reactions.

However, the same technology poses one of the most significant cybersecurity threats governments have ever faced.

Current encryption systems that protect banking networks, government databases, military communications, and digital commerce rely on mathematical problems that are extremely difficult for traditional computers to solve. Quantum computers could eventually crack many of these encryption standards, potentially exposing sensitive information worldwide.

Recognizing that threat, one of Trump’s executive orders establishes an ambitious timetable for migrating critical federal systems to post-quantum cryptography, with agencies expected to complete the transition by 2030 or 2031. The initiative is designed to protect government networks against future attacks from quantum-enabled adversaries.

The concern extends beyond future risks. Cybersecurity experts have repeatedly warned about a “harvest now, decrypt later” strategy, in which hostile actors collect encrypted government and corporate data today in anticipation of eventually gaining access to quantum computers capable of unlocking it.

The administration’s actions, therefore, indicate both a race to build the technology and a race to defend against it. The new orders also highlight how quantum computing has become a central pillar of Washington’s broader technology strategy.

Last month, the Commerce Department announced plans to take approximately $2 billion in equity stakes across nine quantum-computing companies, including a new venture involving IBM. The investment underscored the administration’s willingness to deploy industrial policy tools similar to those used to strengthen domestic semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence infrastructure.

The latest executive actions build on those efforts by directing federal agencies to develop plans over the next five years for deploying quantum-enabled sensors and communication networks. Such technologies could have significant defense applications. Quantum sensors may provide unprecedented precision in navigation, surveillance, and battlefield detection, while quantum communications could create highly secure networks resistant to interception.

Another element of the administration’s strategy focuses on protecting intellectual property and supply chains. Kratsios said the executive orders call for stronger international cooperation on intellectual property protection and supply-chain security in response to what the administration describes as efforts by competitors and adversaries to undermine U.S. economic and national security interests.

That language underpins longstanding concerns in Washington about China’s efforts to gain technological advantages in strategically important sectors.

China has invested heavily in quantum research for more than a decade and is widely regarded as America’s principal competitor in the field. Beijing has poured billions of dollars into quantum laboratories, communication networks, and research institutions, while Chinese scientists have achieved notable breakthroughs in quantum communications and experimental computing.

Many analysts view the competition as analogous to previous races involving nuclear technology, space exploration, and advanced semiconductors. The country that first develops practical, large-scale quantum computing capabilities could gain significant advantages in scientific discovery, military applications, and economic productivity.

The technology is also increasingly intertwined with artificial intelligence. Quantum systems could eventually accelerate AI training and optimization, helping to solve computational problems that are currently prohibitively expensive. That prospect has made quantum computing particularly attractive as governments and companies pour hundreds of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure.

However, despite rapid advances, today’s quantum computers remain prone to errors and are generally limited in scale. Experts continue to debate how quickly the industry can achieve fault-tolerant systems capable of delivering commercial and strategic value.

Trump administration officials nevertheless appear convinced that the breakthrough may arrive sooner than many expect.

The White House’s 2028 target reflects growing optimism that advances in hardware, error correction, and system design could move quantum computing from research labs into practical deployment within the next several years.

Anthropic is preparing to require some Claude users to upload government-issued identification documents, including passports or driver’s licenses, along with selfies and facial geometry data, according to an updated privacy policy that reflects the company’s deepening efforts to balance rapid AI deployment with intensifying regulatory and political pressures.

The change, set to take effect on July 8, marks a notable expansion of Anthropic’s verification practices. While the company has long required users to be over 18, it is now formalizing identity checks that go beyond simple age confirmation in specific circumstances, such as when accounts are flagged for potential fraudulent activity. Rather than immediately banning such users, the process would allow them to appeal by proving their identity.

Anthropic spokesperson Michael Aciman emphasized that the measure applies only to “a small subset of users” whose accounts trigger concerns but are not outright prohibited. In an internal X post, Anthropic’s Thariq Shihpar clarified the timing and intent.

“[Anthropic’s identity verification policy] was updated on June 17 as an update to the appeals process. It’s unrelated to the Fable or Mythos rollout,” Shipar said.

The policy update arrives at a particularly sensitive moment for the AI startup. Anthropic remains locked in a high-stakes standoff with the Trump administration, which recently forced the company to restrict access to its latest cybersecurity-focused models, Fable and Mythos, over national security concerns and alleged jailbreak vulnerabilities. The company also continues to litigate a Department of Defense designation, labeling it a “supply chain risk,” stemming from its refusal to allow its technology for mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.

By strengthening identity verification, Anthropic appears to be signaling a willingness to implement more robust compliance measures as it navigates an increasingly complex regulatory and political landscape. The company stated that such checks help enforce its terms of service, prevent fraud and abuse, investigate security issues, and ensure compliance with applicable laws.

Biometric Data and Privacy Trade-offs

When triggered, the verification process involves uploading a scan of a government ID, a selfie or video, and the creation of a face geometry template — data that some jurisdictions, such as Illinois, classify as protected biometric information. Anthropic partners with San Francisco-based Persona for these checks and says it determines how long Persona retains the documents, though it did not specify deletion timelines when asked. For comparison, Roblox, another Persona client, claims to delete user images “immediately” after processing to minimize risks of data breaches.

The move has raised familiar questions about the balance between platform safety and user privacy. While Anthropic frames the checks as a way to protect legitimate users from erroneous flags, critics may see it as part of a broader industry trend toward greater surveillance capabilities — precisely the type of use case that has strained its relationship with parts of the U.S. government.

Anthropic’s policy explicitly lists several scenarios where verification could be required: creating or administering accounts, enforcing terms of service, preventing unlawful conduct, and resolving security matters. The timing, coming shortly after clashes over model access and safety, suggests the company is proactively addressing compliance gaps that could invite further regulatory intervention.

Navigating Political and Regulatory Headwinds

Anthropic’s relationship with the Trump administration has been turbulent. The recent restrictions on its advanced models followed allegations that jailbreaks could compromise guardrails, though cybersecurity experts pushed back, arguing that such capabilities exist across multiple frontier models and that removing access harms defenders more than potential attackers. The company also faces ongoing litigation over the DoD’s supply chain risk label, which has restricted its use in certain government-related contexts.

By implementing clearer identity verification, Anthropic may be aiming to demonstrate responsible stewardship of its technology — a key expectation from policymakers wary of unchecked AI proliferation. However, the reliance on Persona, backed by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund (which also invests in Anthropic), has already drawn scrutiny in other contexts. Discord briefly adopted Persona for age verification earlier this year before reversing course due to user backlash over Thiel’s involvement.

The policy update also aligns with a patchwork of emerging regulations across U.S. states and countries requiring age assurance for AI tools. Anthropic had already introduced some age verification earlier this year; the latest changes codify and expand identity checks in the privacy policy itself.

What It Means for Users and the Industry

For most casual Claude users, daily interactions are unlikely to change. The checks target a narrow group flagged by Anthropic’s systems, offering them a path to reinstatement rather than permanent exclusion. Still, the requirement to submit sensitive documents and biometric data will raise privacy concerns for those affected, particularly in an era of heightened data breach risks and government demands for user information.

However, Anthropic’s approach reflects the growing tension at the heart of the AI industry that has been increasingly defined as ‘the drive for rapid innovation and broad accessibility versus the need for accountability, safety, and regulatory compliance.’ As frontier models become more powerful, companies like Anthropic face mounting expectations, from governments, users, and civil society, to know who is using their tools and for what purposes.