The person in charge of technology testing for US spies has resigned
Head The activities of advanced US government information research projects (IARPA) leaves the unit this month to work with a quantum computing company.
The departure is waiting for Rick Muller to IRPA among the wider efforts to reduce the US intelligence community, including the Office of the National Intelligence Manager (ODNI), which is monitoring the IARPA. A person familiar with Muller’s programs confirmed that he was wired from the Iarpa.
Born in September 11, 2001, Iarpa carries terrorist attacks, AI tests, quantum calculations and other emerging technologies that can help spy agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency.
The Trump administration has reportedly reduced the workforce of intelligence agencies as part of the president’s widespread efforts to eliminate diversity programs and simplify government operations. The influential Republicans in the US Senate have also recently submitted laws that reduce several ODNI programs, although Iarpa is not one of these goals.
Muller, a long -term chemist and computer science researcher, had monitored some quantum computing programs at the Ministry of Energy before taking the IARPA again in April 2024. According to a person who is familiar with his plans, his last day will be on Iarpa July 11. He is joining IonQ, which is part of the race to commercialize quantum computing. Ghiq refused to comment.
The technologies used by spy agencies are often in the privacy. But a lot of IARPA work is public. The company has provided dozens of research projects in universities and other laboratories across the country, including efforts to improve the system for face recognition and speech. In April, Muller told the federal news channel that cyber security risks would be a priority for future research.
The Trump administration has fired workers and reduced government funding for investigations into several other agencies, sparking protests across the country and endangering the future of science. ODNI is looking for a budget of about $ 82 billion for the coming year, up about 11.5 percent increased compared to the requested amount for 2025.
Last week, Senator Tom Cathon, who heads the Senate Committee, described the Gabard Agency as a “over -bureaucratic behemoth” in which “coordinators are coordinated with other coordinators.” He called for a decline and other changes he recognized as “vital to the security of our country from a wide range of threats we continue to face.”
A cotton spokesman did not immediately respond to the request of Senator’s comments on the Iarpa. The White House did not immediately respond to the request.
The IARPA has been modeled on the Agency for advanced defense research projects, which has long been considered one of the most advanced federal government research and development units with successful technology bets for vaccines, location tracking and language translation.
