# Shutdown Risk Threatens Rigetti Contracts

B. Riley flagged potential federal shutdown-related delays as a near-term risk to Rigetti Computing’s government work, including agency approvals and task orders associated with the Department of Defense and DARPA. The signal describes schedule and revenue exposure rather than a new solicitation or award; related article content also references a $5.8 million Air Force Research Laboratory contract.

- Contractors with work involving DoD, DARPA, or AFRL should account for possible approval and task-order slippage in delivery schedules and revenue forecasts.
- Procurement and program teams may need to factor shutdown-related timing risk into execution planning for affected work; the signal does not specify a delay or a revised deadline.
- Rigetti’s federal work is relevant to contractors and suppliers in the defense technology market, but no specific contract vehicle or solicitation is identified.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** November 02, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
- Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL)

### Vendors
- Rigetti Computing (Federal contractor; role on specific referenced contract not stated)

### Sources
- [B. Riley downgrades Rigetti Computing citing shutdown risk to contracts - Startup Fortune](https://startupfortune.com/b-riley-downgrades-rigetti-computing-citing-shutdown-risk-to-contracts) - Startup Fortune