US’s big bet on quantum computing may not be entirely legal

The US government's $2 billion equity investment in quantum computing companies, including a $1 billion co-investment with IBM to create a quantum chip foundry called Anderon, is facing legal challenges. Rep. Zoe Lofgren argues the funding was illegally diverted from the CHIPS and Science Act, which was specifically allocated for microelectronics R&D and public/private research partnerships — not direct equity stakes in commercial quantum startups. She also raised conflict-of-interest concerns over a former IBM executive's involvement in the negotiations.