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