White House Releases Executive Orders on Quantum Computing

On June 22, the White House released two executive orders titled “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks” and “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation.” Both orders address the development of quantum computing, which utilizes the unique physics properties of quantum mechanics to compute data at an enormous scale, making them far faster than standard computers. Though the quantum computers that exist today are still in development, a breakthrough could come soon.

The “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks” order seeks to initiate measures to protect sensitive U.S. data from cryptographic attacks powered by quantum computing. Because quantum computers can calculate at a far greater scale than standard computers, they can break encryption much faster than ever before. To defend against this threat, the order requires that U.S. government systems transition to “National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)-approved Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) for Post-Quantum Cryptography.” The NIST FIPS were first approved in 2024, but have not yet been widely adopted.

The order “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation,” on the other hand, instructs the executive branch to implement policies that better position the U.S. to lead the quantum computing breakthrough. The executive order’s stated purpose is to “take a cohesive, whole-of-government approach to accelerate deployment and commercialization of quantum computing, sensing, and networking.” It continues:

We must act to solidify the Nation’s position as the world’s QIST [Quantum information science and technology] superpower and deliver the commercial and research benefits of quantum innovation to the American people. Equally important, we must protect sensitive technologies and work with allies to ensure adversaries cannot use QIST to undermine national security.

To do so, the order sets goals for various departments and agencies, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Office of the Director of Intelligence, to implement quantum computing-enabled technologies in their operations.

Section 4 of the order also establishes the “Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science Effort” for the federal government to “pursue development of a quantum computer at a scale intended to initiate the era of quantum-enabled scientific discovery.” As part of creating this computer, the order requires the energy secretary and the assistant to the president for science and technology to write a report on the computer’s technical specifications within 90 days and a follow-up analysis of potential private sector partnerships within 180 days.

You can read the executive order on “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks” here or below:

You can read the executive order on “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation” here or below: