Twin Executive Orders Seek to Spur Quantum Leap in Technology and Cybersecurity What You Need to Know - Key takeaway #1 - On June 22, 2026, President Trump signed two complementary executive orders directing the federal government to defend against quantum-enabled cyber threats while pushing the frontier of quantum technology development. - Key takeaway #2 - The cybersecurity-focused executive order imposes deadlines on federal agencies to harden their information systems against quantum-enabled hacking and calls for a new procurement clause that will require federal contractors to comply with post-quantum cryptography standards by December 31, 2030. - Key takeaway #3 - The innovation-focused executive order launches a sweeping national quantum initiative spanning research, commercialization, workforce development, and export controls — with the goal of developing a quantum computer for use by the scientific community. Client Alert | 4 min read | 06.25.26 On June 22, 2026, President Trump signed two executive orders, “Securing the Nation Against Advanced Cryptographic Attacks” (Quantum Security EO) and “Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation” (Quantum Innovation EO), marking the most significant federal action on quantum technology since the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act of 2022, which directed agencies to harden their information systems against quantum-enabled hacking. The orders seek to speed the development of quantum computers, which are advanced processors that can calculate multiple possibilities simultaneously and thus solve problems exponentially faster than traditional computers. At the same time, the orders look to protect against the danger that quantum technology can “break” traditional encryption by easily decoding it. Of particular note for government contractors, the Quantum Security EO directs agencies to update federal acquisition regulations to require contractors by 2031 to adopt information processing standards that resist quantum-enabled codebreaking. Quantum Security EO: Post-Quantum Cryptography The speed and power of quantum computers may soon render