ON June 22, 2026, President Trump signed Executive Order 14409 to transition U.S. federal agencies to post-quantum encryption and authentication standards. This mandates federal agencies to complete encryption migrations by December 31, 2030, and authentication migrations by December 31, 2031. The order addresses the growing threats posed by quantum computing to current cryptographic systems, aiming to protect sensitive federal information.
It emphasizes two categories: High Value Assets (HVAs) and high impact systems, requiring them to adopt post-quantum cryptography (PQC) measures. The transition is crucial to prevent potential 'harvest-now-decrypt-later' attacks by adversaries. The EO sets deadlines for federal contractors to comply with PQC, aiming to create a supply chain that supports the federal agencies' needs. It also seeks collaboration on international cryptographic standards, stressing the importance of unified approaches against emerging quantum threats.