The White House just changed the quantum game. Here’s what it means for national security. - Federal News Network

Commentary The White House just changed the quantum game. Here’s what it means for national security. For federal civilian agencies, the post-quantum cryptography migration clock is now ticking toward a major accountability deadline.

Cameron Chehreh September 11, 2026 6:29 pm 5 min read President Donald Trump recently signed two executive orders that together represent the most consequential federal action on quantum technology in a generation. I am not saying that lightly. I have spent the better part of my career sitting at the intersection of emerging technology and national security. I have watched quantum move from a theoretical curiosity to a genuine pillar of America’s defense posture. And what the administration put forward is the clearest signal yet that Washington understands the stakes. Let me break down what these executive orders actually say and why they matter so much to those of us in the quantum industry. ‘Ushering in the next frontier of quantum innovation:’ Building the machine The quantum innovation executive order establishes a national effort to develop the first quantum computer powerful enough to initiate an era of quantum-enabled scientific discovery.

The White House set a target for 2028. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Director Michael Kratsios said it plainly on the day of signing: “We believe this can happen by 2028.” Join us Sept. 15 and 17 for the Federal Leader’s Guide to the CAIO & CDO where leaders will share what's shaping the future of government. Register today! That is an aggressive timeline, but it is achievable through focused efforts. The order directs the departments of Energy, Commerce and Defense, plus the intelligence community and NASA, to coordinate on deploying quantum-enabled sensors and networks within five years. It calls for a full update to the National Quantum Strategy, new domestic supply chain assessments, and the creation of National Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) Workforce Development Institutes. What strikes me about this order is not just the ambition of the goal. It is the architecture around it: workforce pipelines, supply chain security, counterintelligence protections, and the reconstituted National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. These are not buzzwords. This is an intentional move to build and protect a complete domestic quantum ecosystem, not just fund a lab. For defense and intelligence community missions, this matters enormously. Think about what quantum computing, sensing, and a complete full-stack platform can be applied to use-cases such as logistics, signals intelligence, and operating autonomous systems in contested environments. Agencies such as the Air Force Research Laboratory and Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) are taking leadership positions pioneering the application of these EOs, through a portfolio of critical programs. These programs signal the practical reality that quantum is graduating from research to commercialized scale. ‘Securing the nation against advanced cryptographic attacks:’ Protecting what we already have and what we’ll build This EO is the one that keeps me up at night, in the best possible way. It directs the Office of Management and Budget and the National Cyber Director to lead an accelerated nationwide migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), with hard deadlines: High-value assets for key establishment must transition by 2030, digital signatures by 2031. A pilot program is required to be completed by Dec. 31, 2027. This is a mandate, not a recommendation. The order goes further. It requires the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council to hold covered contractors to federal cybersecurity standards by the end of 2030. It directs the Commerce Department, DHS and the National Security Agency (NSA) to deliver clear, practical guidance to agencies. It tells the State Department and other agencies to help critical infrastructure operators and allied governments make the same transition. That work with our allies matters more than many people realize. The transition to PQC is about more than the eventual arrival of cryptographically relevant quantum computers. It’s about addressing risks that already exist while building cryptographic systems that can adapt to those still to come. Sign up for our daily newsletter so you never miss a beat on all things federal Because allied economies and digital systems are deeply interconnected, this transition must be coordinated to maintain interoperability and avoid uneven exposure across shared networks and supply chains. That’s why the EO’s 2030 and 2031 migration deadlines are not arbitrary. Modernizing the cryptographic foundations of the digital economy cannot happen overnight. Done well, this transition is also a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build crypto-agile, crypto-resilient systems that can evolve as new vulnerabilities, attack techniques and computing paradigms emerge.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright put it well at the signing: “This is tricky. We’re not there yet. We’re close. But with this executive order and this coordinated effort, we will have scientifically relevant, meaning error-corrected, quantum computing during this administration. The impacts of it will be tremendous.” He is right, because data collected cannot be retroactively protected. And the fact that the administration is treating quantum as the third pillar of American computing, alongside artificial intelligence and advanced semiconductors, is exactly the framing our industry has been working to communicate for years. What this means for federal agencies, defense and higher education I spend a lot of time talking to agency leaders, program managers and university research directors. The question I hear most often is: Where do we start? These two EOs give a clear answer. For federal civilian agencies, the PQC migration clock is now ticking toward a major accountability deadline. OMB and the National Cyber Director are in the lead. Every agency needs to designate a PQC migration lead. The pilot program due by 2027 will set the template. Start your inventory of cryptographic assets now and dedicate resources to move faster. Quantum is a job creator. Universities, community colleges, national laboratories, industry, and government all have important roles to play in building the future quantum workforce. The nations and organizations that invest in quantum talent today will be best positioned to capitalize on the technology’s benefits in the future. What’s next in a global context Competing nations, including adversarial ones, are moving to undermine the United States’ economic and national security through quantum capabilities. The race for quantum advantage between the U.S., its allies, and strategic competitors is emerging as one of the defining technology competitions of this era — much as the space race shaped the last century. The EOs send a clear signal globally: For countries and companies that want to do business with the U.S., quantum leadership is now a strategic priority. That is what bold executive action looks like on technology policy. Now the work is implementation: helping agencies, enterprises, and allied partners prepare for the quantum era with secure, scalable systems that can protect critical data, support trusted infrastructure and strengthen U.S. leadership. Read more: Commentary Cameron Chehreh is vice president of field engineering and federal go-to-market at IonQ. Copyright © 2026 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. READ MORE Sign up for breaking news.

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