The Trump administration is reportedly negotiating with leading U.S. quantum computing startups — including IonQ, Rigetti Computing, and D-Wave Quantum — to take partial ownership in exchange for federal grants. The Wall Street Journal said each firm could receive at least $10 million, marking a rare direct equity investment by the U.S. government in private tech companies.
Deputy Commerce Secretary Paul Dabbar, a former quantum industry executive, is leading the talks. Similar deals have emerged under Trump’s leadership, such as plans for the U.S. to take a 10% stake in Intel and the Pentagon’s investment in MP Materials to boost rare earth supply.
The discussions come amid a global race for quantum dominance, with Microsoft, Google, and IBM making rapid progress in developing next-generation chips. Experts say the move could help the U.S. secure critical technologies vital for national security and economic competitiveness.
Neither the White House nor the companies involved have commented. The Commerce Department said it is not currently in active negotiations.
