President Trump signs two executive orders aimed at speeding the development of advanced quantum computers and mitigating the security threats they present

Wall Street Journal 2026-06-24 Amrith Ramkumar

Context & Ripple Effects

The administration had previously moved to scrap or revise cybersecurity programs that included AI security and post-quantum cryptography, even as federal agencies had earlier been instructed to prepare for cryptography vulnerable to future quantum systems. The new orders put quantum development and its security consequences back together as a federal priority.

The orders also follow Commerce Department plans to provide quantum-computing grants to nine companies, including a proposed package for IBM. That makes the policy move part of a broader mix of public funding and executive action rather than a standalone security initiative.

First-order effects

Federal quantum policy is now directed simultaneously at accelerating advanced-computing capabilities and addressing the security risks those capabilities create.
Quantum companies positioned to receive Commerce support, including IBM, gain a more supportive policy backdrop, while federal cybersecurity stakeholders face renewed attention to quantum-related risk mitigation.

Second-order effects

The pairing of development and security raises pressure for federal programs to coordinate quantum investment with migration planning for systems dependent on public-key cryptography.
Other quantum vendors will have stronger incentives to compete for federal support and to demonstrate both technical progress and relevance to government security needs.

Third-order effects

If funding and executive directives remain aligned, quantum computing could become a more explicit industrial-policy and national-security market, with government acting as both capital provider and early strategic customer.
The policy record remains uneven: revising earlier post-quantum programs while launching new quantum-security orders could make implementation quality, rather than the existence of directives, decisive for preparedness.

The trend: Quantum policy is shifting from long-horizon research support toward a combined race to build strategically valuable systems and harden institutions against their eventual cryptographic impact.

Discussion

@whitehouse @whitehouse on x
Investing in American quantum leadership like never before. President Trump signs executive orders on quantum, supercharging a national effort in innovation in quantum technologies, ensuring national security and continuing American growth in a critical industry. 💻🇺🇸 [video]
@mkratsios47 Director Michael Kratsios on x
Today, @POTUS signed an Executive Order to accelerate U.S. innovation in quantum technologies and strengthen our national security. The Trump Administration will execute an ambitious agenda: ➡️ @ENERGY will develop the first quantum computer powerful enough for scientific discov…
@senatorhagerty Senator Bill Hagerty on x
I applaud the Trump Administration's leadership in advancing quantum innovation. Tennessee is at the forefront of this critical field through the Governor's Tennessee Quantum Initiative, EPB Quantum, and a growing network of world-class research, higher education, and industry
@daniellefong Danielle Fong on x
Mister President, we must not allow a quantum energy gap! [image]
@marshablackburn Sen. Marsha Blackburn on x
.@POTUS never stops fighting for America's quantum dominance! Congress should pass the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act without delay.
@kent_walker Kent Walker on x
Quantum is the next frontier for 🇺🇸 leadership. @Google supports the new Quantum EOs. With our US-built Willow chip, we'll unlock breakthroughs in energy, medicine and more, while partnering with government to secure our post-quantum cryptographic future. https://www.whitehouse.g…
@nic_carter @nic_carter on x
this EO is a big deal: - USG wants a there to exist a US-based commercially relevant quantum computer ⚠️by 2028 ⚠️ - ⚠️accelerates post-quantum migration target for US agencies to 2031 ⚠️ - was 2035 before - quantum now considered an explicit strategic priority and USG will
@whitehouse @whitehouse on x
The Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation [image]
@energy @energy on x
Quantum Mode: Activated. [image]
@whostp47 @whostp47 on x
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ushers in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation
@dowcto @dowcto on x
The @DeptofWar is ensuring our warfighters have frontier quantum capabilities to DOMINATE in degraded or denied environments. Trust the plan, patriots.🇺🇸 [image]
@kushdesai47 Kush Desai on x
Wow, everything's computer!
@rapidresponse47 @rapidresponse47 on x
Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ushers in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation https://www.whitehouse.gov/...
@whostp47 @whostp47 on x
President Trump Signs Executive Orders to Accelerate U.S. Quantum Innovation and Strengthen Security
@rapidresponse47 @rapidresponse47 on x
.@SecretaryWright: With this Executive Order, and this coordinated effort, we will have scientifically-relevant Quantum Computing during this administration. The impacts of it will be tremendous. [video]
@nicksortor Nick Sortor on x
🚨 JUST NOW: President Trump signs TWO executive orders securing the United States' spot as the WORLD LEADER in Quantum Computing ORDER 1: Launches a national effort to produce a quantum computer capable of performing important scientific calculations. It also aims to develop [vid…
@rapidresponse47 @rapidresponse47 on x
U.S. National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross: “The actions that you take today will make sure that American systems are trusted, and secure, and safe moving forward.” [video]
@rapidresponse47 @rapidresponse47 on x
.@mkratsios47: “There's been a big leap in the investment the private sector has made in this particular domain. We're now at the moment where a lot of that research is starting to pay off into commercial applications—and what this Executive Order will do will turbocharge that.” …
@stocksavvyshay Shay Boloor on x
President Trump signed two major executive orders on quantum technologies saying they will strengthen America's position as the “world leader” in the emerging field. $IONQ, $RGTI, $INFQ, $QBTS, $IBM, $GOOGL, $MSFT [video]
@rapidresponse47 @rapidresponse47 on x
.@POTUS prepares to sign two Executive Orders on Quantum technology at the White House: “The first Executive Order launches a national effort to produce a Quantum Computer capable of performing important scientific calculations, and to develop quantum-enabled sensors and networks…
@atrupar Aaron Rupar on x
Trump on an executive order he's about to sign that he clearly has no clue about: “Quantum ... cryptography. Does anybody know what that is?” [video]
@ben_guggenheim Benjamin Guggenheim on x
🚨🚨President Donald Trump announces two quantum EOs at a WH signing ceremony today. The first focuses on U.S. dominance in quantum computing and the second directs agencies to transition to post-quantum cryptography.
@dowcto @dowcto on x
Are you enjoying the show? Refill your popcorn... you'll love this next part. 🍿 AMERICAN (Q)UANTUM DOMINANCE [image]
@txrandy14 Randy Weber on x
2018: President Trump signs the National Quantum Initiative Act 2026: My National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act clears @housescience Quantum posting continues 🍿🔥🇺🇸 [image]
Barry Mainz Barry Mainz on linkedin
The executive order on advanced cryptographic attacks is clear: this is not just about when quantum capabilities mature, but what is already at risk today. …
Justin Reynolds Justin Reynolds on linkedin
The time to adopt post quantum encryption is now. Quantum Executive Orders signed yesterday will help secure our data and advance the economic and scientific promise that QIST can unlock. …
Ben Bloom Ben Bloom on linkedin
Yesterday's Executive Orders represent a decisive inflection point for U.S. quantum leadership, moving the conversation from experimentation to scalable, real-world deployment. …
Anand Oswal Anand Oswal on linkedin
Yesterday, The White House issued a new Executive Order on quantum computing and post-quantum readiness. …
Nick Nilan Nick Nilan on linkedin
The White House put out a new Executive Order on post-quantum cryptography and it's a good reminder that these deadlines will be here faster than most believe a transition is possible. …
Konstantinos Karagiannis Konstantinos Karagiannis on linkedin
Yes I'm thrilled that Trump is taking the quantum computing threat to cryptography seriously. High-value assets now have a PQC migration deadline …
Daren Klum Daren Klum on linkedin
The quantum security race is no longer theoretical. — I want to thank President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth …
J.R. Rao J.R. Rao on linkedin
Two landmark quantum executive orders in one day! — One to accelerate the push toward a scientifically useful quantum computer …
Daniel Kroese Daniel Kroese on linkedin
This is huge. Palo Alto Networks applauds the EO on Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks. …
Jay Gambetta Jay Gambetta on linkedin
Advancing useful quantum computing and transitioning to quantum-safe security are among the most consequential technology shifts of our time. …
@jtimmer John Timmer on bluesky
Have just read the Executive Order on quantum innovation. Reading it, it's difficult to escape the impression that the Trump Administration doesn't realize that it's the Trump Administration.
@djb@mastodon.cr.yp.to Daniel J. Bernstein on mastodon
One interesting aspect of https://web.archive.org/... is the demand that federal contractors (starting mid-2027) label “the use of non-FIPS approved algorithms” as a “vulnerability”. The 1990s version of this would be telling contractors to label RSA above 512 as a “vulnerabilit…
r/QNC r on reddit
Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks
r/IonQStock r on reddit
Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation
r/cybersecurity r on reddit
Trump administration to order agencies to speed up post-quantum migration, boost industry

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