Twin Executive Orders Seek to Spur Quantum Leap in Technology and Cybersecurity
Twin Executive Orders Seek to Spur Quantum Leap in Technology and Cybersecurity
Publish Date: 2026-06-25 14:25:00
Source Domain: www.crowell.com
On June 22, 2026, President Trump signed two executive orders, “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks” (Quantum Security EO) and “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation” (Quantum Innovation EO), marking the most significant federal action on quantum technology since the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act of 2022, which directed agencies to harden their information systems against quantum-enabled hacking. The orders seek to speed the development of quantum computers, which are advanced processors that can calculate multiple possibilities simultaneously and thus solve problems exponentially faster than traditional computers. At the same time, the orders look to protect against the danger that quantum technology can “break” traditional encryption by easily decoding it. Of particular note for government contractors, the Quantum Security EO directs agencies to update federal acquisition regulations to require contractors by 2031 to adopt information processing standards that resist quantum-enabled codebreaking.
Quantum Security EO: Post-Quantum Cryptography
The speed and power of quantum computers may soon render traditional cryptography obsolete. To prepare for what it terms “post-quantum cryptography” (PQC), the Quantum Security EO directs agencies to “take steps to strengthen cryptographic protections for the Nation’s sensitive data, critical infrastructure, and digital economy.” Key requirements include:
- 30 days: Agencies must designate a PQC migration lead responsible for overseeing the agency’s move toward stronger encryption.
- 90 days: The director of the Office of Management and Budget must issue guidance directing agencies to transition all “High Value Assets” and “high impact systems” to PQC standards approved by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by the end of 2031, accelerating a prior Biden administration policy of transitioning to quantum resistant…
