On June 22, 2026, the White House made quantum computing a formal US national priority, releasing two executive orders that position quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography at the center of US industrial policy and national security strategy.
The urgency is evident in the data. IDC surveyed 535 US government organizations and found that 32% are currently running quantum computing pilots; among federal agencies specifically, that figure rises to 49%, with another 40% planning to launch pilots within the next 12–24 months. This is no longer theoretical exploration; it reflects active government commitment to quantum technology development.
Two executive orders target quantum computing
The first executive order, “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation,” establishes the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) program. This initiative directs the Department of Energy, in coordination with Defense, Commerce, and intelligence agencies, to develop quantum computing systems capable of solving problems beyond classical computing capabilities. Potential applications include climate modeling, advanced signal processing, and defense logistics optimization.
The timeline is demanding: the Department of Energy must publish technical specifications within 90 days and explore private-sector partnership models within 180 days. The Pentagon is directed to field at least three quantum sensor projects by September 2028. The order also addresses critical infrastructure gaps, including stronger protections for domestic quantum supply chains, expanded counterintelligence measures for quantum technology, and a mandate for a government-wide quantum workforce strategy.
The second executive order addresses the defensive imperative: “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks.” It confronts a specific and present threat: adversaries may be collecting encrypted US data today, banking on the ability to decrypt it once large-scale quantum computers become operational.
This tactic is known as “harvest now, decrypt later”: the practice of stockpiling encrypted data today in order to decrypt it later, once the technology catches up. It demands immediate action.
The order establishes a comprehensive post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration strategy with clear deadlines. All high-value federal assets and high-impact systems must adopt PQC for key establishment by December 31, 2030, and for digital signatures by December 31, 2031. Federal contractors face identical compliance timelines, enforced through updates to the Federal Acquisition Regulation. NIST will begin pilot migration on its own systems by the end of 2027.
Quantum computing investment and market growth
These orders arrive at an inflection point for quantum technology.
IDC’s Worldwide Quantum Computing Forecast, 2025–2029 projects total spending will reach $17.3 billion by 2029, representing a 43% compound annual growth rate. Government investment has been a primary driver, with quantum spending increasing 37% between 2024 and 2025—gains attributed to advances in error correction and modular quantum architectures.
These executive orders follow the Department of Commerce’s May 2026 announcement of $2 billion in CHIPS Act funding for quantum manufacturing, signaling a pivot toward industrial-scale ecosystem development beyond early-stage research funding. Priority investment areas include manufacturing, packaging, cryogenics, and control systems: the engineering challenges that will determine whether quantum computing can achieve scalable commercial deployment.
Three factors that will determine quantum policy success
The effectiveness of these executive orders depends on three elements:
- Funding continuity: Executive orders require sustained appropriations and bipartisan Congressional support to insulate quantum policy from electoral cycles. Organizations must prioritize use cases that deliver measurable return on investment within 12–24 months. Academia and private industry must also establish collaborative partnerships to share investment risks and accelerate development.
- Organizational readiness and talent: The 90-day deadline for technical specifications will clarify the government’s near-term expectations. More fundamentally, both government and industry face significant quantum talent shortages. The current dependence on a limited number of advanced research centers and specialized technology companies represents a strategic vulnerability that must be addressed through coordinated workforce development.
- Federal contractor preparation: The PQC compliance mandate for federal contractors, with its December 2030 deadline, has the potential to reshape procurement standards across the broader IT industry. Technology vendors and systems integrators that have already established quantum centers of excellence or actively participated in federal quantum pilots are positioned to realize competitive advantages.
What’s next for quantum computing policy
These executive orders represent a sustained commitment to transition quantum computing from the experimental phase toward operational deployment. The combined focus on innovation (QC-ADDS), defensive security (PQC migration), and supply chain development signals a comprehensive approach to quantum technology as critical infrastructure.
For agencies and contractors, the near-term deadlines are now fixed: publish technical specifications, hit PQC migration milestones, and build the workforce needed to run quantum and classical systems side by side.