Trump issues post-quantum executive orders to speed up migration - The Daily Scoop Podcast

Summary3 min read

The Daily Scoop Podcast
Episode Summary: Trump Issues Post-Quantum Executive Orders to Speed Up Migration
Date: June 23, 2026
Host: Billy Mitchell

Overview

This episode covers two major developments affecting federal technology policy:

President Donald Trump’s signing of two executive orders aimed at advancing the U.S. government’s post-quantum migration and supporting domestic quantum computing industries.
The formal rulemaking process for a major overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) impacting federal procurement and security standards.

Billy Mitchell provides detailed reporting on how these executive actions and regulatory updates signal federal priorities in technology, cybersecurity, and procurement reform.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump Administration’s Quantum Computing Push

[00:10–02:05]

President Trump has signed two executive orders accelerating:
- The adoption of post-quantum encryption across federal networks.
- Government financing to bolster the domestic quantum computing industry.
The actions are part of a broader administration strategy to lead in critical emerging technologies, following recent policies on AI.
“The orders…direct the government to throw its weight behind the quantum computing industry.” (Billy Mitchell, 00:24)

Notable Policy Details:

Government-Wide Support:
A holistic ("whole of government") approach is being adopted for research, development, and deployment of quantum computing and associated technologies such as quantum sensing.
Industry Focus:
Emphasis on ensuring the U.S. does not “miss out on prioritizing the feeders for the research or the development of quantum” (Unnamed administration source, 01:14).
Financing Incentives:
More than $2 billion in incentives for nine quantum companies under the CHIPS and Science Act have been announced.
Encryption Deadline:
- Federal civilian networks must now adopt quantum-resistant encryption before the original 2035 deadline.
- Agencies missing the new deadline must report exceptions to the OMB.
- NIST-vetted algorithms will defend against future quantum threats.

Key Administration Figures Present at Signing:

Dario Gill (DoE Under Secretary for Science)
Howard Letnick (Secretary of Commerce)
Shawn Cairncross (National Cyber Director)
Pete Hegseth (Defense Secretary)
Greg Barbaccia (Federal CIO)
Michael Krattsios (OSTP Director)

2. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Overhaul

[02:06–04:28]

Four proposed rules have been drafted to formally update 20 sections of the FAR, marking the regulation’s most significant revision in 40+ years.
The overhaul aims to codify over a year’s worth of interim changes under the administration’s “revolutionary FAR overhaul” initiative.

Major Updates Include:

Regulatory Reviews & Sunsets:
Mandates regular regulatory reviews and sets sunset provisions for outdated guidance.
Reforms to Bid Protest System:
- Responsibility for resolving contract bid protests will shift from the GAO to the involved agencies.
Highlights From a Key Proposed Rule:
- Establishment of a unified "Do Not Buy" list targeting entities posing national security risks (e.g., Kaspersky Lab, TikTok, some Chinese telecom firms).
- Expanded definition and restrictions for unmanned aircraft systems to ban foreign-built drones.
- Requirement for federal contractors to report cybersecurity incidents within 72 hours.
- Updates to handling and safeguarding of Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and clarification for reported incidents.
- When holding CUI in the cloud, contractors must use at least a FedRAMP Moderate service.
Transparency & Accessibility:
- Contract award public announcement threshold increased to $5.5 million (from $4.5M).
- Solicitation and award notices will be posted in a more readable and accessible table format.
Timeline:
- Proposed rules to be published in the Federal Register on June 23, 2026.
- Public comment period is open until July 23rd.

Notable Quote:

“The FAR itself has not been significantly updated in more than 40 years.” (Billy Mitchell, 03:07)

Memorable Quotes

On Prioritizing Quantum Advancement:
- “Don’t let us miss out on prioritizing the feeders for the research or the development of quantum.”
  (Anonymous administration source, 01:14)

Important Timestamps

00:10–02:05: Trump’s Executive Orders on Quantum Policy
02:06–04:28: FAR Overhaul and Impact on Contractors
03:25: Highlights of technology-related proposed rules
04:00: Updates to contractor guidelines and cloud security requirements

Conclusion

This episode shines a spotlight on the federal government’s determined drive toward a post-quantum future and streamlined procurement processes. Backed by new executive orders and sweeping regulatory reforms, the administration is pushing both security and technological competitiveness to the forefront for agencies and contractors alike.

For further updates, the host encourages listeners to visit FedScoop.com.

Note: Ads and housekeeping content have been excluded for clarity and relevance.

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Transcript1 lines

[00:02]
A
Today on the Daily Scoop Podcast from the Scoop News Group, President Trump issues a pair of post quantum executive orders to speed up migration across the federal government, and the administration's far overhaul heads to a formal rulemaking process. It's Tuesday, June 23, 2026. Welcome to the Daily Scoop Podcast, where you'll hear the latest news and trends facing government leaders. I'm the host of the Daily Scoop Podcast, Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for joining me. And with that, let's dive into the day's top headlines. President Donald Trump signed two executive orders on Monday to accelerate the federal government's transition to post quantum encryption and reprioritize government financing to support the domestic quantum computing industry. The orders, which CyberScoop first reported last year, direct the government to throw its weight behind the quantum computing industry. They are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to put its stamp on the development of another key emerging technology. 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. Last year, the administration did something similar with its AI focused executive orders and action plan that created special federal export programs for AI technology and equipment, directed federal agencies to mobilize federal financing tools to support the industry and cut or curtail regulations that the administration said may impede domestic growth. Ahead of the signing, sources previewed details of those orders to cyberscoop. Per one of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss pending administration actions, a whole of government approach is used to empower research and development into quantum computing as well as quantum sensing and other resources. They describe the Trump administration's attitude for propping up industry as don't let us miss out on prioritizing the feeders for the research or the development of quantum unquote. The second order requires federal civilian networks to adopt quantum resistant encryption faster than the current 2035 deadline. The new encryption algorithms, vetted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, will protect against future quantum computer attacks. Agencies that missed the new deadline must report to the Office of Management and Budget, explaining why. On hand for the signing were Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science Dario Gill, Department of Commerce Secretary Howard Letnick, National Cyber Director Shawn Cairncross, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Federal Chief Information Officer Greg Barbaccia, and Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Krattsios. And now, moving on to other news, four proposed rules to begin formally overhauling 20 sections of the federal acquisition regulation are set to be published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. While the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has been rewriting and deviating from the FAR for over a year now as part of what it's calling the revolutionary FAR overhaul, the unpublished proposed rules are a step toward codification of these changes. Over a combined total of more than 1,000 pages of proposed rules, the overhaul would establish regular regulatory reviews and sunsets, as well as move the BID protest system to the agencies involved in disputes instead of being led by the Government Accountability Office. The FAR update comes in response to an April 2025 executive order mandating the procurement policy be pared down to the essentials and presented in plain language, void of any undue barriers and unnecessary regulations. The FAR itself has not been significantly updated in more than 40 years. Tech related highlights from one rule would implement a single Do Not Buy list that would blacklist entities that pose security risks such as certain Chinese telecommunications companies, notably including Russia based Kaspersky Lab and China's TikTok. It would also update the definition of unmanned aircraft systems to ban foreign built drones and require cybersecurity incidents to be reported within 72 hours. That same rule proposes changes to contractors handling of controlled unclassified information, enabling a quote, uniform process for communicating the information. Contractors must manage and safeguard, as well as identify where a CUI incident must be reported or how that might differ from other FAR clauses. It also requires that when such information is held in the cloud, the contractor must use services that meet at least a FedRAMP moderate baseline. Another rule would increase the threshold for public announcement of a significant contract award from $4.5 million to $5.5 million, and it would make minimum posting time frames for solicitation and award notices in a more readable table format. Public comment on the draft rule revisions will be open until July 23rd. For more news at the intersection of the federal government and technology, make sure to visit fedscoop.com. Thanks so much for tuning in to another episode of the Daily Scoop Podcast, available on all podcast platforms. If you've already rated the podcast on your platform of choice, thanks so much. High ratings and good reviews of the show help more people to find it. The Daily Scoop Podcast is a production of the Scoop News Group in Washington, D.C. carlin Fisher helped put the show together and the entire Scoop News Group team contributes. We'll be back again tomorrow with more top headlines. Until then, I'm your host Billy Mitchell. Thanks so much for listening.