By William McGee, Quantum Policy Research Fellow at Gen-Z Emerging Technology Action (ZETA)
For most Americans, quantum computing might still sound like science fiction, a realm of particle experiments, cryptic math, and concepts like Schrödinger’s Cat that seem more like philosophy than public policy. But quietly and quickly, the rules are changing. What once lived only in physics textbooks is now reshaping global power structures, technological competitiveness, and national security.
And here’s the question no one can afford to ignore: is the United States ready?
At ZETA, we represent a generation that has never known a world without the internet. We see the future through a digital lens where we aren’t just users of technology, but also architects of what comes next. That’s why we’ve been talking directly with lawmakers and industry leaders about a field poised to redefine everything: quantum.
Unlike traditional computers that process data in ones and zeros, quantum computers use qubits—units that can exist in multiple states at once (thanks to superposition) and remain connected across space (entanglement). It’s this strange physics that gives quantum machines their power. They can solve problems in seconds that would take classical computers thousands of years. Google’s Sycamore processor has already demonstrated that leap.
The implications are staggering. Quantum simulations could accelerate drug discovery, model climate systems, and optimize energy grids. But this power also brings danger. Most of today’s encryption methods—used to protect everything from your bank account to military intelligence—would become obsolete in a post-quantum world. Experts refer to this potential tipping point as Q-Day, and it could arrive sooner than we think.
So how do we prepare?
This year, ZETA has been meeting with congressional offices on both sides of the aisle to explore that very question. And there’s a rare bright spot in an often-divided Washington: bipartisan momentum on quantum.
[ZETA team with the office of Senator Ben Ray Lujan(NM), 2025]
[ZETA Team with the office of Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN), 2025]
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), joined in part by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), has introduced four groundbreaking bills to help the U.S. leap over the hurdles currently keeping American quantum innovation from reaching its full potential:
The Quantum Defense Acceleration Act of 2025 pushes the Department of Defense to integrate quantum into national security planning, facilitated by a new quantum policy advisor, an overdue move to ensure our military doesn’t fall behind in an era of cyber-quantum threats.
The Advancing Quantum Manufacturing Act of 2025 addresses a critical bottleneck: the U.S. lacks scalable infrastructure to produce quantum hardware domestically. This bill creates a National Quantum Manufacturing Innovation Hub to build the physical backbone of this emerging industry.
The Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act of 2025 creates experimental testing grounds, or “sandboxes” for public-private innovation in areas where quantum is already viable, like logistics, chemistry, and AI.
The Quantum Leadership in Emerging Applications and Policy Act of 2025, co-sponsored by Senator Luján, invests in workforce development through standards-setting and the creation of an advisory commission to ensure the U.S. doesn’t just build quantum systems—but leads the global conversation on how they’re used.
Together, these bills mark a strategic shift. They move beyond theory and toward execution, setting the stage for the U.S. to lead not just in discovery, but in deployment.
This is the kind of forward-thinking policy that Gen Z wants to see more of. Through ZETA’s conversations with legislative offices and our work across the tech sector, we’re making sure our generation isn’t just watching the quantum era unfold, but is actively helping to shape it.
The truth is, the U.S. can still win the quantum race. But leadership won’t come from innovation alone. It will come from policy that anticipates risk, funds progress, and brings a new generation of digital thinkers to the table.
Quantum is having its moment. Now’s the time for Congress, and all of us. to meet it with the urgency and imagination it deserves.
