President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order (EO 14409) aimed at accelerating the federal government’s transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC), a cybersecurity technology designed to protect sensitive information from future threats posed by quantum computing.
According to the White House, the order directs the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the National Cyber Director to lead a government-wide effort to migrate federal systems to quantum-resistant encryption standards. The initiative is intended to protect sensitive government data, critical infrastructure, and digital networks as quantum computing capabilities continue to advance.
The executive order tasks the Department of Commerce, the National Security Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security with developing guidance to help federal agencies accelerate the transition. Agencies will also be required to designate post-quantum cryptography migration leads and transition certain high-value assets to PQC protections by 2030 or 2031, depending on operational requirements.
As part of the effort, the Department of Commerce will launch a pilot project to demonstrate a successful PQC migration by the end of 2027. Federal officials say the project is intended to provide a model for broader adoption across government systems.
The order also extends beyond federal agencies. The State Department and other federal entities are directed to assist critical infrastructure operators, foreign governments, and international industry groups in adopting post-quantum cryptography standards. The White House said the effort is intended to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation while reinforcing U.S. leadership in emerging technologies.
Additional provisions call for coordination among the Office of Management and Budget, the Department of War, NASA, and the General Services Administration to identify cost-saving opportunities associated with the national migration strategy. The Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council is also directed to require covered federal contractors to meet specified cybersecurity standards and vulnerability disclosure requirements by the end of 2030.
Post-quantum cryptography is designed to protect digital communications and stored data against future quantum computers, which experts believe could eventually be capable of breaking many of today’s widely used encryption methods. Federal agencies and private-sector organizations have increasingly focused on preparing for that possibility by adopting new cryptographic standards developed to withstand quantum-enabled attacks.
The White House said the executive order builds on previous federal efforts related to quantum technology, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure protection, including the National Quantum Initiative Act signed in 2018 and several cybersecurity-focused directives issued during the administration over the past two years.
The move comes as governments and technology organizations worldwide continue preparing for the long-term security implications of advances in quantum computing.
