A new White House executive order has tasked the Federal Bureau of Investigation with leading and expanding a multi-agency initiative aimed at protecting the nation’s quantum technology secrets from foreign intelligence threats.
The order, titled “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation,” directs the FBI to helm the Quantum Information Science and Technology Counterintelligence Protection Team (QCPT). Embedded within the National Counterintelligence Task Force, the expanded team is charged with coordinating security efforts across federal agencies, private companies, and academic research centers to block foreign adversaries from stealing sensitive research.
Quantum information science and technology (QIST) builds on the physics of subatomic particles like atoms and electrons. While basic quantum mechanics already underpins everyday tools like GPS, MRI scans, and internet lasers, researchers are working toward quantum computers capable of solving complex problems exponentially faster than today’s most powerful supercomputers. Such breakthroughs could transform fields from medicine and materials science to microelectronics and national defense.
However, U.S. officials caution that these same possibilities make quantum research a top target for foreign espionage. Rather than reacting after research has been compromised, the FBI plans to focus on prevention.
“Historically, the FBI is very good at solving theft of trade secrets and economic espionage cases, and working with DOJ to prosecute them,” said Supervisory Special Agent Wes Wollard. “However, the goal of our team is to proactively posture ourselves ‘left of theft’ to help prevent theft of quantum research and technologies.”
Security officials are particularly concerned about the potential race to build a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC). A machine with that level of computing power could crack standard encryption codes, exposing military secrets, private financial transactions, and previously intercepted encrypted data.
“At a simple level, quantum information science and technology has the potential for very significant economic and national security impact,” Wollard said. “The greatest threat is the potential for adversarial development of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer (CRQC)—one which could break current widely-used encryption methods—which would allow our adversaries to elicit everything from the most sensitive secrets of our nation, to secure financial transactions and communications, and even decrypt previously harvested encrypted data.”
Because much of the breakthroughs in QIST happen inside university labs and commercial tech companies, the federal government is adjusting how it shares threat intelligence. Foreign espionage operations frequently rely on non-traditional tactics, including academic funding and economic pressure, making isolated defense measures ineffective.
“The QCPT was created via White House policy as a new approach to partnering with industry, academia, and federal partners to ensure U.S. leadership in quantum research and development,” Wollard explained. He added that the FBI’s objective is to “bring together key counterintelligence and security agencies protecting quantum under one team with unified lines of effort and a strategy to ultimately protect the U.S. quantum ecosystem from adversarial threats.”
For counterintelligence agents, safeguarding quantum research spans both national defense and corporate assets.
“As a field counterintelligence agent, a lot of our time is spent doing two things, protecting classified information of state secrets and protecting economic information and intellectual property,” said Supervisory Special Agent Sean Miner. “Quantum really covers both of those areas. And so, it fits really snugly right into what makes up the bulk of a field counterintelligence agent in the FBI protection responsibilities.”
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