Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2025, Section 2 "Department of Energy quantum information science research program"

• Authority: United States Congress
• Parent authority: Federal government
• Jurisdiction: United States
• Collections: U.S. federal laws
• Most recent activity: Proposed
• Most recent activity date: 2025-02-13

Risk subdomain coverage

Good coverage — Comprehensive governance measures or mitigations with clear procedures relating to the risk subdomain are explicitly described.

• Competitive dynamics

Minimal coverage — Brief mention but no specific mitigations, recommendations or governance measures relating to the risk subdomain are described.

• AI system security vulnerabilities
• Cyberattacks, weapon development or use
• Governance failure
• Environmental harm

All other risk subdomains had no coverage in this document.

Risk Coverage Summary

The document has minimal coverage of AI risk domains, with primary focus on competitive dynamics (6.4) through international competition restrictions, and governance failure (6.5) through coordination mechanisms. The document addresses quantum computing technology rather than AI systems, though quantum computing can be used as AI infrastructure. Coverage is concentrated in socioeconomic domains related to national security and technological competition.

Sector coverage

Good coverage — Comprehensive governance measures or mitigations with clear procedures relating to the sector are explicitly described.

• Trade, Transportation & Utilities
• Information
• Scientific Research & Development Services
• Educational Services
• Public Administration (excl. National Security)
• National Security

Minimal coverage — Brief mention but no specific mitigations, recommendations or governance measures relating to the sector are described.

• Agriculture, Mining, Construction & Manufacturing
• Professional & Technical Services
• Health Care & Social Assistance

All other sectors had no coverage in this document.

Sectors Summary

The document primarily governs the Scientific Research and Development Services sector through quantum research programs, and the Information sector through quantum computing, communications, and networking development. It also addresses the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector through energy sector applications and the Public Administration sector through federal agency coordination.

Legislative Status

Hard Law

Legislative Status Summary

This is a binding federal statute enacted by the United States Congress that amends the National Quantum Initiative Act. It contains mandatory obligations with specific funding authorizations, enforcement restrictions, and coordination requirements.

Actors

Proposer

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Summary: The document is titled 'Department of Energy Quantum Leadership Act of 2025' and is identified as being from the United States Congress, which has constitutional authority to enact federal legislation.

Target

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor, AI_Developer, AI_Infrastructure_Provider
• Summary: The Act targets the Department of Energy and Secretary of Energy with mandatory obligations to carry out quantum research programs. It also applies to institutions of higher education (with restrictions on Confucius Institute affiliations), industry partners, and National Laboratories engaged in quantum research and development.

Enforcer

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Summary: The Secretary of Energy is designated as the primary enforcement authority with power to administer funding restrictions and determine foreign entities of concern. Multiple other federal officials are involved in consultation and determination processes.

Monitor

• Entity Types: AI_Governance_Actor
• Summary: Congress receives monitoring reports through the strategic plan submission requirement. The Secretary of Energy coordinates with multiple federal agency heads to ensure programs complement and do not duplicate efforts, establishing a multi-agency monitoring framework.

AI Lifecycle Stages

Lifecycle stages covered by the documents, as defined in the OECD Framework for the Classification of AI Systems

• Plan and Design
• Collect and Process Data
• Build and Use Model
• Verify and Validate
• Deploy
• Operate and Monitor

AI Lifecycle Summary

The document addresses quantum computing research and development across multiple lifecycle stages, with particular emphasis on Build and Use Model (quantum computing development), Deploy (commercialization and industry engagement), and Operate and Monitor (strategic planning and coordination). It also covers Plan and Design through strategic planning requirements and Collect and Process Data through research activities.

Technical Scope

Terms relating to technical scope that are mentioned or implicitly referenced in the document

No technical scope terms identified.

Technical Scope Summary

The document primarily focuses on quantum computing technology rather than AI systems, though it explicitly mentions machine learning and artificial intelligence as accelerators that can be integrated with quantum computing systems. It addresses quantum high-performance computing and hybrid quantum-classical systems but does not define AI models, AI systems, or specific AI categories like frontier AI or general purpose AI.