IONQ Inc. (NYSE: IONQ) stock surged 16.48% in pre-market trading on Thursday following reports that the Trump administration is in talks to take equity stakes in several quantum-computing companies, including IONQ, in exchange for federal funding.

According to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. government is discussing becoming a shareholder in quantum-computing firms as part of agreements to provide financial support. The talks reportedly include minimum funding awards of $10 million each from Washington. Other companies mentioned in the discussions include Rigetti Computing, D-Wave Quantum, and Quantum Computing Inc.

This potential government investment signals a strong vote of confidence in the quantum computing sector and its strategic importance to the United States. The move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to support critical technologies and maintain U.S. competitiveness in emerging fields. If the deals materialize, they could provide a significant boost to the quantum computing industry and accelerate the development of this groundbreaking technology.