The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it would invest $625 million in the nation’s National Quantum Information Science Research Centers over the next five years. The Centers were established in 2018 as part of the National Quantum Initiative Act. This important federal investment complements quantum research being conducted by the private sector, including at leading tech companies. You can read the announcement here and find more information about quantum computing on Voices for Innovation’s website.
Thank you for reading. Below, you’ll find a roundup of recent tech policy news and a featured podcast.
This Week in Washington
- POLITICO: The Trump Administration and the Chinese Government agreed to a trade truce. The truce includes the Chinese government lifting export restrictions on rare earth metals and ending investigations into U.S. semiconductor manufacturers.
- NextGov: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is proceeding with layoffs of 54 people in the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)’s Stakeholder Engagement Division. Although opponents of the layoffs argue they violate the court injunction against shutdown layoffs, the DHS says it is justified, as the layoffs were planned before the shutdown began.
- Cyberscoop: U.S. Representative Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, penned an op-ed in CyberScoop raising the alarm on national cyber defense. He identified AI as an opportunity to multiply cyber defenders by enhancing “threat hunting, response times, and pattern recognition.”
- Axios: Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced a bipartisan bill to improve our understanding of how AI is shaping the workforce. The AI-Related Jobs Impact Clarity Act would require public information on both layoffs and new hires attributed to AI.
Article Summary
- Broadband Breakfast: Newly elected Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger will make broadband access a priority when she takes office next year, she said. Spanberger’s rural economic development plan includes investments in high-speed broadband access and energy development.
- WCNC: North Carolina launched a $50 million program to rebuild and repair broadband infrastructure destroyed last year by Hurricane Helene. The program, called the Broadband Recovery Program, was signed into law by Governor Josh Stein in August.
- Axios: A bipartisan group of state lawmakers from six midwestern states founded the Heartland AI Caucus. The caucus, led by Arkansas State Senator Bart Hester and the nonprofit Heartland Forward, will help states coordinate on AI policy and develop proposals for AI adoption, innovation, and digital skilling initiatives.
- NPR: AI is saving thousands of lives through early detection of tuberculosis. An algorithm built by MIT professor Regina Barzilay can detect the deadly disease with a simple mobile X-ray, a key innovation for resource-poor regions without access to traditional screening.
Featured Podcast
- Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
How is AI affecting the cybersecurity industry? Zach Korman, CTO of the cybersecurity startup Pistachio, thinks AI is going to scale creativity, not replace jobs. Listen in as he and host Sherrod DeGrippo go in-depth on the opportunities and challenges of AI in cybersecurity. (Beyond AI for Security Hype: What Really Matters in Cyber Defense – November 6, 2025) – 41 minute and 18 second listen.
Note: Voices for Innovation regularly shares a range of opinion articles and press releases from organizations in and publications covering tech policy. These pieces are meant to educate our audience, not to endorse specific platforms or bills.