Lisa Blunt Rochester Questions Commerce Nominee on Quantum Competition with China

Concerns Over Minority Business Development Agency

• ⚠️ Senator Blunt Rochester expresses concern over the reported gutting of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), noting a reduction from 100 people to potentially one.
• 🤝 This action is seen as undermining decades of bipartisan work and the agency's goal of expanding economic opportunity for minority communities.
• ❓ When asked if he supported the gutting of the MBDA, the nominee stated he did not have enough information.

Quantum Competition and US Investment

• 🇨🇳 China has invested over $15 billion in public quantum funding, significantly outpacing the US investment of $932 million in 2023.
• 📉 There is a major shortage of skilled quantum scientists and engineers, with only one qualified candidate for every three openings.
• ⚛️ The nominee acknowledges the importance of quantum technology and expresses a desire to work with the committee on reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative Act.
• 🚀 He believes the science has advanced to a point where building real quantum devices and computers is now feasible.

Cybersecurity and Quantum Attacks

• 🔒 Quantum technology is critical for future cybersecurity, including encryption designed to resist quantum-based computer attacks.
• 🎣 Experts warn of "harvest now decrypt later" attacks, where bad actors stockpile encrypted data for future decryption.
• 📈 The nominee states the Secretary is focused on post-quantum cryptography efforts by NIST and aims to accelerate these initiatives.
• 🧑‍💻 He emphasizes the need to grow the quantum workforce to protect the economy from potential quantum attacks.