Congress Sounds the Alarm: Why "Steal Now, Decrypt Later" Demands Board-Level Action Today

The U.S. House Hearing on Quantum Computing Reveals an Urgent Timeline for Post-Quantum Cryptography Migration

By Qryptonic Research Lab | June 24, 2025

Executive Summary

The U.S. House Committee on Oversight's recent hearing "Preparing for the Quantum Age: When Cryptography Breaks" marks a critical inflection point for cybersecurity governance. With quantum computers potentially breaking current encryption by 2028-2030, board members and CISOs face an existential threat to decades of sensitive data. Foreign adversaries are already executing "steal now, decrypt later" attacks, harvesting encrypted data today for future quantum decryption. The stakes encompass everything from trade secrets and M&A plans to customer PII and financial records. Organizations must act immediately to implement post-quantum cryptography before their encrypted archives become readable by quantum-enabled adversaries.

1. Congressional Recognition: Quantum Threats Move from Theory to Policy

When Subcommittee Chairwoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) declared that "a sufficiently advanced quantum computer will upend cryptographic security in every sector including finance, healthcare, and defense,"¹ she articulated what security experts have warned about for years. This wasn't political posturing—it was acknowledgment at the highest levels of government that quantum computing represents an existential threat to modern encryption.

The hearing emphasized that quantum computers "aren't faster classical computers; they operate completely differently and allow us to solve new types of problems which classical computers can't solve."² This fundamental difference means mathematical problems protecting your organization's most sensitive data—problems requiring billions of years for classical computers to solve—could be cracked in hours by quantum machines.

The committee also highlighted that "United States companies are already investing billions each year" into quantum development, with McKinsey projecting "the quantum technology market could be larger than $100 billion by 2040."³ This massive investment signals both opportunity and threat.

2. "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later": The Silent Crisis Already Underway

The committee's focus on foreign adversaries implementing a "steal now, decrypt later" strategy reveals the most insidious aspect of the quantum threat.⁴ Unlike traditional cyberattacks seeking immediate exploitation, HNDL attacks operate with patient, strategic intent.

Current data shows "more than 70% of ransomware attacks now exfiltrate information before encryption,"⁵ with sophisticated threat actors systematically harvesting encrypted data for future decryption. These attacks leave "no corrupted files, no ransom notes, no system disruptions,"⁶ making detection nearly impossible.

Consider your organization's encrypted archives at risk:

• Strategic Intelligence: Board minutes, strategic plans, M&A discussions from the past decade

• Financial Data: Projections, trading algorithms, investment strategies

• Intellectual Property: Patents, trade secrets, R&D documentation

• Personal Information: Customer databases, employee records, healthcare data

• Legal Documents: Litigation files, regulatory submissions, compliance records

The eventual exposure could include "decades-old classified government files, confidential corporate data, and sensitive personal records"⁷ that organizations believed permanently protected.

3. The 2028 Deadline: Why Traditional Risk Timelines No Longer Apply

While quantum computing's full potential may take decades to realize, the encryption-breaking threshold arrives much sooner. Industry analysts warn "state actors are expected to achieve quantum at scale by 2028,"⁸ with private sector capabilities following shortly after.

Gartner VP analyst Mark Horvath's assessment proves particularly sobering: "We assume that state actors are two years ahead of where the commercial vendors are."⁹ This compressed timeline creates what cryptographers call "Mosca's Theorem"—organizations must begin migration when:

• X = Years sensitive data must remain secure

• Y = Time required for complete cryptographic migration

• Z = Years until quantum computers can break current encryption

For most enterprises holding data with 10+ year sensitivity and facing 2-3 year migration timelines, the equation X+Y>Z demands immediate action.

4. NIST Standards: The Framework Is Ready, Implementation Cannot Wait

In August 2024, NIST "finalized its principal set of encryption algorithms designed to withstand cyberattacks from a quantum computer,"¹⁰ completing an eight-year global effort. This wasn't preliminary guidance—these are production-ready standards.

NIST mathematician Dustin Moody emphasized the urgency: "We encourage system administrators to start integrating them into their systems immediately, because full integration will take time."¹¹ The standards include:

• ML-KEM (Module-Lattice-Based Key-Encapsulation Mechanism) for general encryption

• ML-DSA (Module-Lattice-Based Digital Signature Algorithm) for digital signatures

• SLH-DSA (Stateless Hash-Based Digital Signature Algorithm) for critical systems

While NIST set a 2035 deadline for government agencies, they acknowledge "some systems, particularly those with long term confidentiality needs or more complex cryptographic infrastructures, may require earlier transitions."¹² For private sector organizations facing competitive threats, 2035 represents catastrophic delay.

5. Board-Level Imperatives: Fiduciary Duty in the Quantum Era

Directors face unprecedented liability exposure from quantum threats:

Regulatory Compliance: The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act, signed into law in December 2022, mandates federal migration to post-quantum cryptography.¹³ Similar requirements for critical infrastructure and regulated industries will inevitably follow.

Competitive Survival: Organizations failing to protect intellectual property face existential threats when competitors or nation-states decrypt years of stolen strategic information.

Stakeholder Trust: Retroactive decryption of customer data could trigger unprecedented liability, with sensitive data often retaining "its value for many years."¹⁴

Director Liability: Boards aware of quantum threats but failing to act may face personal liability for breach of fiduciary duty, particularly in regulated industries.

6. Strategic Roadmap: From Awareness to Quantum Resilience

Immediate Actions (0-90 days):

• Quantum Risk Assessment: Catalog all systems using RSA, ECC, or DSA encryption

• Data Sensitivity Audit: Identify information requiring protection beyond 2028

• Board Education: Schedule quantum threat briefings for directors and committees

• Vendor Analysis: Assess quantum readiness of critical technology partners

Near-Term Initiatives (3-12 months):

• Implement Crypto-Agility: Build infrastructure enabling "rapid adaptation to new cryptographic mechanisms"¹⁵

• Launch PQC Pilots: Test quantum-resistant algorithms in controlled environments¹⁶

• Update Procurement: Mandate quantum-safe requirements in new contracts

• Develop Migration Plan: Create detailed transition roadmaps by system criticality

Long-Term Execution (12+ months):

• Phased Migration: Prioritize systems based on data sensitivity and operational impact

• Continuous Monitoring: Implement quantum threat intelligence programs

• Industry Collaboration: Participate in sector-specific quantum security initiatives

• Compliance Preparation: Anticipate regulatory requirements and audit readiness

7. The Mathematics of Inaction: Calculating Quantum Risk

Consider that "while a classical computer would take 300 trillion years or more to decrypt a 2,048-bit RSA encryption, a quantum one could crack it in seconds."¹⁷ This asymmetry creates compound risks:

• Data Accumulation: Every day of delay adds more vulnerable data to adversary archives

• Migration Complexity: Rushed implementations increase security gaps and operational failures

• Talent Scarcity: Quantum security expertise becomes increasingly expensive and unavailable

• Market Exclusion: Contracts requiring quantum-safe security exclude unprepared vendors

The cost equation is clear: Early adoption requires manageable investment, while delayed response risks catastrophic loss.

8. Time to Decide: Lead or Follow in the Post-Quantum Era

As Chairwoman Mace concluded, "It is essential the United States lead in this disruptive technology."¹⁸ This leadership imperative extends beyond government to every boardroom and executive suite.

The quantum threat isn't approaching—it's here, manifesting in every encrypted file stolen today for tomorrow's decryption. Organizations acting now position themselves for competitive advantage, while those delaying risk explaining to stakeholders why they ignored congressional warnings and expert consensus until too late.

The question for every board: Will you demonstrate proactive governance protecting stakeholder interests, or explain why you dismissed documented threats until your encrypted archives became an open book to adversaries?

Ready to Permanently Protect Your Enterprise from Quantum Threats?

Schedule your complimentary Qryptonic Post-Quantum Readiness Assessment before Q3 2025.

Our quantum security experts will:

• Conduct comprehensive cryptographic risk analysis

• Develop customized migration roadmaps

• Provide board-ready quantum threat briefings

• Ensure permanent post-quantum resilience

Stay Ahead of Quantum Threats with Qryptonic

📩 Contact: info@qryptonic.com
🌐 Website: www.qryptonic.com
📖 Read: The Quantum Almanac 2025–2026 – Available on Amazon

Future-proof your cybersecurity today. The question is: will you lead or follow in the post-quantum era?

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© 2025 Qryptonic
All Rights Reserved.

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References

1. U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, "Mace Opens Hearing on Quantum Computing and Advancing U.S. Cybersecurity," June 2025.

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.

4. Ibid.

5. VentureBeat, "'Harvest now, decrypt later': Why hackers are waiting for quantum computing," September 2024.

6. Encryption Consulting, "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later(HNDL): Preparing for the Quantum Threat," 2025.

7. Ibid.

8. CSO Online, "NIST publishes timeline for quantum-resistant cryptography, but enterprises must move faster," 2025.

9. Ibid.

10. NIST, "NIST Releases First 3 Finalized Post-Quantum Encryption Standards," August 2024.

11. NIST, "NIST Announces First Four Quantum-Resistant Cryptographic Algorithms," July 2022; NIST, "NIST Releases First 3 Finalized Post-Quantum Encryption Standards," August 2024.

12. CSO Online, "NIST publishes timeline for quantum-resistant cryptography, but enterprises must move faster," 2025.

13. U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, "Mace Opens Hearing on Quantum Computing and Advancing U.S. Cybersecurity," June 2025.

14. NIST, "What Is Post-Quantum Cryptography?" August 2024.

15. SecurityWeek, "Cyber Insights 2025: Quantum and the Threat to Encryption," 2025.

16. Keyfactor, "The Quantum Countdown: Why 'Steal Now, Decrypt Later' is a Threat You Can't Ignore," 2025.

17. VentureBeat, "'Harvest now, decrypt later': Why hackers are waiting for quantum computing," September 2024.

18. U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, "Mace Opens Hearing on Quantum Computing and Advancing U.S. Cybersecurity," June 2025.