Quantum computing firm IonQ has successfully finalized its $2 billion acquisition of semiconductor manufacturer SkyWater, successfully bypassing regulatory hurdles that threatened to impose strict operational conditions on the deal. The merger, which concluded this past Friday, moved forward despite intense pressure from senior Pentagon leadership to place safeguards on SkyWater’s foundry capabilities.

According to Semafor, Emil Michael, the Pentagon’s undersecretary for research and engineering, had privately lobbied the Federal Trade Commission to mandate that IonQ maintain open access for third-party quantum competitors. The concern stemmed from the fact that SkyWater is one of the few domestic foundries capable of producing the specialized hardware required for quantum research. Pentagon officials feared that IonQ would prioritize its own internal needs, effectively marginalizing rivals and undermining broader government-backed quantum initiatives that have received significant federal funding.

Although FTC staff had spent months negotiating a potential settlement that would have included third-party access guarantees and independent compliance monitoring, the effort collapsed due to an agency deadlock. Commissioner Mark Meador declined to support the proposed restrictions, characterizing the merger as competitively neutral. Because the commission currently lacks a full bench, the dissenting vote effectively stripped the FTC of the ability to enforce the oversight requirements previously negotiated. Consequently, IonQ closed the transaction without being bound to the Pentagon’s requested safeguards. IonQ issued a statement asserting that the acquisition will foster broader growth across the quantum ecosystem, though company representatives declined to provide further specific comment on the regulatory standoff.