Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces Legislation to Secure America Against Emerging Quantum Cyber Threats

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced legislation to codify key provisions of President Trump's Executive Order 14412, ensuring the federal government continues the transition to post-quantum cryptography and strengthens protections for critical government systems, military networks, and national infrastructure.

"President Trump is right to get ahead of this challenge now instead of waiting until it's a crisis," said Congressman Harrigan. "This executive order puts the federal government on a path to secure some of our most important systems against the next generation of cyber threats. My legislation builds on that work by putting those priorities into law and ensuring future administrations continue preparing for a world where quantum computing fundamentally changes the cybersecurity landscape."

As quantum computing capabilities continue to advance, cybersecurity experts have warned that foreign adversaries may eventually be able to defeat many of today's encryption standards. President Trump's executive order established a government-wide strategy to identify vulnerable systems, transition high-value federal assets to quantum-resistant encryption standards, and support critical infrastructure operators as they prepare for the next generation of cybersecurity threats.

The legislation would place those priorities into law by requiring agencies to inventory vulnerable systems, establish post-quantum migration plans, designate responsible officials, and meet implementation deadlines for securing high-value federal assets and high-impact systems. It would also strengthen coordination between federal agencies and critical infrastructure operators to ensure the United States remains prepared for evolving cyber threats and maintains its technological leadership.