"IBM applauds the Administration for taking this important, timely step forward," said IBM CEO Arvind Krishna in a statement.
Two executive orders and a government push
President Donald Trump signed two executive orders Monday directing the federal government to accelerate its move to post‑quantum encryption and to reprioritize government financing in support of the domestic quantum computing industry. The orders instruct the federal apparatus to "throw its weight behind the quantum computing industry," according to earlier reporting by CyberScoop that first flagged the administration’s intent last year.
The actions are part of a broader pattern the administration has followed with another emerging technology: last year it issued AI‑focused executive orders and an action plan that created special federal export programs for AI technology and equipment, mobilized federal financing tools to support the AI industry, and cut or curtailed regulations the administration said could impede domestic growth. The new quantum orders mirror that playbook by combining regulatory direction with financing priorities.
Faster migration to quantum‑resistant encryption
One of the two orders requires federal civilian networks to adopt quantum‑resistant encryption on a schedule faster than the current 2035 deadline. The order directs agencies to move to the new cryptographic algorithms vetted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); those algorithms are described in the orders as protections against future attacks enabled by quantum computers. Agencies that fail to meet the revised deadline must report to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) explaining why.
Federal financing and industry support under the CHIPS and Science Act
The second order reprioritizes government financing tools to support the domestic quantum computing industry. In May, the Department of Commerce announced letters of intent for more than $2 billion in federal financing incentives for nine quantum companies under the CHIPS and Science Act — a concrete example the administration cites in pursuit of bolstering U.S. capacity in quantum technologies.
Officials who previewed the orders to CyberScoop described a "whole of government approach" meant to empower research and development into quantum computing, quantum sensing, and related resources. One source quoted on condition of anonymity summarized the attitude driving the actions as: "don't let us miss out on prioritizing the feeders for the research or the development of quantum."
Who attended the signing and industry reactions
Government officials on hand for the signing included Department of Energy Undersecretary for Science Darío Gil; Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick; National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth; Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia; and Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratisos. Multiple executives from technology companies were also present and were complimentary of the administration’s effort to boost the sector.
In addition to IBM CEO Arvind Krishna’s statement praising "sound policy, sustained investment and public‑private partnership," Google President and Chief Investment Officer Ruth Porat said, "Quantum computing is a transformational technology that can advance national security, drug discovery, energy solutions and more," and noted Google’s work on both quantum computing and post‑quantum cryptography.
What this means for federal agencies, quantum companies, and technology vendors
- Federal agencies: They will be required to accelerate migration to NIST‑vetted post‑quantum algorithms and must justify missed deadlines to OMB, increasing near‑term compliance and procurement pressure on civilian networks.
- Quantum companies receiving CHIPS Act incentives: The administration’s reprioritization of financing — coupled with the Department of Commerce’s announced letters of intent for more than $2 billion to nine companies — signals greater access to federal capital and a policy environment aimed at supporting domestic growth.
- Technology vendors and cloud providers present at the signing: Public statements from executives such as Arvind Krishna and Ruth Porat indicate industry willingness to align with federal priorities and to emphasize partnerships on quantum hardware and post‑quantum cryptography.
These executive orders put the federal government squarely in the role of an active market shaper: speeding cryptographic transitions, directing financing toward domestic firms, and convening public‑private partnerships. They also introduce a concrete compliance mechanism — OMB reporting — for agencies that do not meet the newly accelerated encryption timetable.
The orders raise a specific, immediate question the text of the announcements leaves unfilled: the administration has stated the new requirement is "faster than the current 2035 deadline," but the orders as reported do not publish the new target date. Agencies now have clear incentives to accelerate migration, and OMB will be the repository for any explanations when deadlines are missed — but the precise timetable the government will enforce remains to be disclosed.
Source: CyberScoop — Trump executive orders speed up post‑quantum migration, boost industry
