The U.S. Department of War (DoW) released its Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Strategy on 23 June 2026. The strategy was announced by the Department’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), Kirsten Davies. It aims to protect the Department’s communications, data and command-and-control systems against future cryptographically relevant quantum computers (CRQCs). The target is to deploy quantum-resistant cryptography on high-impact systems by 2030 and across all Department systems by 2031. The strategy is aligned with the presidential executive order on securing the nation against advanced cryptographic attacks, signed the previous day. Implementation will be carried out through five lines of effort:
- PQC governance and integration
- Cryptographic inventory and planning
- Technology acceleration
- Industry partnership and enablement
- PQC migration and fielding
The strategy also provides for preparing the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) for upcoming cryptographic compliance requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). It further aims to accelerate the integration of commercial PQC-enabled solutions into Department systems.