Quantum-GUARD Act of 2026

What it does

• •Requires the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to consider cybersecurity risks from quantum computers when reviewing or modifying electric grid reliability standards.
• •Directs the Department of Energy to establish a post-quantum cryptography (PQC) sandbox program within one year to help electric grid operators, vendors, and federal agencies develop and test quantum-resistant security technologies.
• •Requires the Department of Energy to conduct a study of quantum cybersecurity risks to the bulk-power system, including obstacles to adopting post-quantum cryptography, and submit recommendations to Congress within one year.

Why it matters

• •Quantum computers pose a potential future threat to current encryption methods protecting critical electrical grid infrastructure; the bill addresses this emerging risk by requiring regulatory consideration of quantum-resistant security measures.
• •The PQC sandbox and study establish a coordinated federal approach to help the energy sector transition to quantum-resistant cryptography before quantum computers become sufficiently advanced to compromise grid security.

Who is affected

• •The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy, which must implement new regulatory considerations and establish the PQC sandbox program.
• •Bulk-power system operators, information technology and operational technology vendors, the Electric Reliability Organization, and distribution utilities that supply or operate the nation's electrical grid.

What happens next

The bill was introduced in the Senate on August 6, 2026, read twice, and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources; the Department of Energy must establish the PQC sandbox within one year and submit a study report to Congress within one year of enactment.