Former Senior Federal Reserve Adviser Arrested for Alleged Trade Secret Theft for China

Washington, Jan 31 (Reuters) – Former senior adviser to the U.S. Federal Reserve, John Harold Rogers, has been arrested on charges of conspiring to steal sensitive Fed trade secrets for the benefit of China, the Justice Department announced on Friday.

Rogers, who served as a senior adviser in the Fed’s division of international finance from 2010 to 2021, is accused of sharing confidential financial information with individuals linked to China’s intelligence and security apparatus. According to the Justice Department, these co-conspirators posed as graduate students to gain access to sensitive data.

The arrest underscores growing concerns over economic espionage targeting U.S. institutions, particularly from foreign state actors. Authorities allege that Rogers used his position at the Federal Reserve to extract and share proprietary information that could have aided China in shaping its economic strategies.

The case is part of a broader U.S. effort to counter foreign influence and safeguard national security in the financial sector. Investigators continue to examine the full extent of Rogers’ alleged actions and any potential ramifications for U.S. economic policy.