FBI expands counterintelligence effort to protect U.S. quantum research
A new executive order has tasked the FBI with leading and expanding the Quantum Information Science and Technology Counterintelligence Protection Team.
The interagency team is intended to protect U.S. quantum research conducted across government, universities, and private companies. Its work includes sharing threat intelligence, improving security awareness, coordinating with international partners, and identifying vulnerabilities before adversaries can exploit them.
Supervisory Special Agent Wes Wollard described the approach as operating “left of theft.” Rather than focusing only on investigating stolen trade secrets, the FBI wants to prevent foreign intelligence services and other adversaries from acquiring sensitive research in the first place.
The longer-term risk involves the potential development of a cryptographically relevant quantum computer. Such a system could theoretically break encryption protecting government secrets, financial transactions, communications, and previously collected encrypted data.
There is no confirmed timeline for when such a computer may become practical. The immediate issue is therefore not a demonstrated collapse of modern encryption, but the protection of research, intellectual property, supply chains, and institutions involved in quantum development.
The practical question is how research organisations can improve counterintelligence protections without restricting the collaboration that scientific progress depends on.
Complete article and government context:
Posted Aug 3, 2026, 2:00 PM UTC