Proposed Senate Amendment to Create a Department of Defense Quantum…

The Frame

What this does

This amendment would establish a centralized military office to manage quantum technology research and strategy, directly impacting how the Department of Defense allocates resources and coordinates with other agencies to compete with foreign adversaries in quantum science.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Department of Defense

The Department is mandated to establish a new office and subcomponent, and to produce recurring classified reports on quantum technology.

Congressional Committees on Armed Services, Intelligence, Foreign Relations, and Homeland Security

These committees are designated as the recipients of the required classified reports on national security quantum capabilities.

What changed

Last recorded activity June 24, 2026.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

Senate Amendment 6438, introduced by Senators Hassan and Blackburn, proposes the creation of a new 'Office of Quantum Capabilities and Competition' within the Department of Defense. The office would lead and coordinate national security research, development, and policy regarding , computing, and communications, while providing regular classified reports to Congress on global competition.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the purpose of the proposed Office of Quantum Capabilities and Competition?

Its primary mission is to coordinate and lead Department of Defense quantum technology efforts to advance research, develop national security expertise, and maintain a competitive advantage over other countries.

Will the reports produced by this office be public?

No, the amendment specifies that each report submitted to Congress must be in classified form.

Which countries are specifically mentioned as competitors in quantum technology?

The amendment explicitly names China, Russia, and Iran as countries whose quantum capabilities must be assessed and compared against those of the United States.

Why It Matters

This amendment would establish a centralized military office to manage quantum technology research and strategy, directly impacting how the Department of Defense allocates resources and coordinates with other agencies to compete with foreign adversaries in quantum science.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Related Legislation

congressional_record

Senate Scheduling Update for S. 4784

The Senate has agreed to delay the vote on a cloture motion for S. 4784 until after the confirmation vote for the Schwartz nomination. This procedural

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Formalization of Quantum Strategy

The amendment signals a shift toward formalizing quantum technology as a core pillar of national security, moving beyond general research to specific, classified competitive strategies against named adversaries.

Department of Defense China Russia Iran

Connected Entities

otherChina“Identified as a competitor in quantum technology capabilities.”Map →

organizationDepartment of Defense“The federal department tasked with establishing the new quantum office.”Map →

personMrs. Blackburn“U.S. Senator who co-sponsored the amendment.”Map →

otherRussia“Identified as a competitor in quantum technology capabilities.”Map →

personMs. Hassan“U.S. Senator who submitted the amendment.”Map →

otherIran“Identified as a competitor in quantum technology capabilities.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance65
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

Proposed Senate Amendment to Create a Department of Defense Quantum Office