CISA’s PQC List Is Here; FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service; TSA, CBP Face the Future
CISA’s PQC List Is Here; FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service; TSA, CBP Face the Future
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/wrap-cisas-pqc-list-here-fedramp-cybersecurity-service-tsa-cbp-eoy6c
Publish Date: 2026-01-23 16:34:00
Source Domain: www.linkedin.com
Using an unordered list, summarize the following article with between 4 and 8 key points.
Welcome to The Wrap for Friday, January 23!
From the newsroom at MeriTalk, it’s the quickest read in federal tech news. Here’s what you need to know today:
CISA’s PQC List Is Here
It’s finally here! Today, the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
(CISA) released its long-awaited list of technology product categories that are expected to support post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards. The background: The product category list is mandated by
The White House
executive order, which tasks CISA with releasing the list and regularly updating it. First, former President Biden said the list was due in July 2025. Then, President Trump amended the order in June 2025, setting a December deadline. Nevertheless, the list has finally arrived. What’s inside: Product categories deemed PQC-safe include cloud services, web software, networking hardware and software, and endpoint security. Now that the initial product category list is published, the next step is for CISA to develop a list with specific products on it that are PQC-enabled. Time is ticking, because the White House said that by 2035, all federal agencies should have completed their migration to PQC. “If your product is not PQC-enabled, you probably won’t be able to do business with the government as we move forward,” Garfield “Gary” Jones, the former associate chief of strategic technology at CISA, warned back in August. So, industry folks, it’s a pretty important list.
FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service
FedRAMP®
Director Pete Waterman dropped some top-secret news on Thursday that even had him saying: “Did I mention that? Spoilers! Shh … you’ll have to stand by.” Speaking at an event hosted by the Digital Government Institute, Waterman previewed a new initiative he called the FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service. “The FedRAMP Cybersecurity Service will recruit security engineers to build FedRAMP into a world-class security program,” Waterman said during the Jan. 22 event. The tease came amid a broader outline of FedRAMP’s plans for 2026, which he said include a wide release of FedRAMP 20x, expanded agency adoption, earlier marketplace access for cloud services, and a push for a “more balanced approach” to Rev5. “2025 laid the foundation, and 2026 is when we deliver,” Waterman said, describing the coming year as “a huge year for FedRAMP.” We’ll be watching for any additional details on the new cyber service, so stay tuned.
The future of travel check-in looks more click-and-scan than clipboards as
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP), the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
, and the
U.S. Department of State
push biometrics from gate to border lane. CBP’s Matt Davies says certain travelers can already “submit a photo and the fingerprints on a mobile application before they ever travel,” and next week, pedestrians at four border crossing sites can send a selfie and passport data so officers don’t have to photograph everyone — with vehicle lanes queued up later this year. The target: “biometrics for everyone before they come in.” TSA’s Balaji Subramaniam points to a booming roster of seamless identity pilots across TSA PreCheck, trusted traveler, and third-party services. And at the State Department, Tim Ahrens says the team is focused on real-time data so interagency systems can verify faster, safer, and with fewer bottlenecks.
Quantum Initiative Update
House lawmakers on the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology are considering reauthorizing and updating the National Quantum Initiative to sustain U.S. leadership in quantum science amid workforce shortages. Chairman Brian Babin, R-Texas, said he is working with Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., on a bipartisan reauthorization to accelerate quantum development and address workforce challenges. Additionally, officials from the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
, the
National Science Foundation (NSF)
, and the
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
highlighted the talent gap. As the House committee works on its proposal, Senate lawmakers earlier this month introduced a bipartisan National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act. The Senate bill would extend the initiative for five years through 2034, reauthorize key agency programs, and expand the initiative to include
NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration
research, such as quantum satellite communications and quantum sensing.
Once again, let’s “call IT a day,” but we’ll bring you more next week. Until then, please check the MeriTalk breaking news website throughout the day for the latest on government IT people, progress, and policy.
And finally, please hit the news tip jar (with leads, breaking news, or simply your two cents) at [email protected].
