Bipartisan Bill Targets Quantum Cybersecurity Risks to U.S. Electric Grid

Insider Brief

• Senators Chris Coons and Mike Rounds have introduced the bipartisan Quantum-GUARD Act to address quantum-related cybersecurity risks to the U.S. electric grid.
• The bill would direct FERC to consider quantum cybersecurity risks, establish a DOE testing environment for PQC adoption, and study vulnerabilities across the bulk electric power system.
• The legislation focuses on helping utilities and government agencies assess quantum risks and transition critical IT and operational technology systems to post-quantum cryptography.

Press release – U.S. Senators Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Quantum Grid Utility Assurance and Resilient Defense Act of 2026 (Quantum-GUARD Act) to strengthen electric grid resilience by proactively addressing cybersecurity threats posed by quantum computing.

Quantum computing technology is rapidly progressing, and powerful quantum computers may soon be able to break widely used encryption standards that protect the cybersecurity of critical systems and sensitive data. In 2024, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards that are more resistant to quantum-enabled decryption.