White House in process of crafting quantum executive action

The White House is planning executive action focused on quantum technology in the federal government, according to two sources familiar with the documents and their contents. 

Approximately two executive actions focused on quantum information sciences and technology and post-quantum cryptography migration efforts have been in the works since early this summer, according to both sources. Another noted that there may be as many as three orders or as few as one, indicating the scope of quantum technology the administration is seeking to address.

Details of the executive action remain scarce, but the sources say they will feature post-quantum cryptography — the first algorithms for which were released by the National Institute of Standards and Technology last year — as a starring subject. The executive action is slated to set further directives for agencies’ timelines to migrate their digital networks to a post-quantum cryptographic standard ahead of the advent of a fault-tolerant quantum computer.

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