The Board Can Strengthen Its Process to Monitor and Mitigate International Travel Risks

While international travel is an important aspect of the Board's collaboration with other central banks, foreign adversaries often target U.S. government employees traveling overseas in an effort to acquire sensitive, nonpublic information. Foreign travel can also present unique safety and security risks for employees.

Thousands of International Trips Were Taken with Board Devices, March 2023–March 2025

Our review found that the Board does not have formal programs or procedures to

• prepare employees before travel for potential risks and threats
• assess employee travel data and escalate identified risks
• require all employees who do not have a security clearance but have access to sensitive nonclassified information to report personal international travel
• inform all travel reviewers of risks before allowing employees to travel with agency devices

We have six recommendations to minimize the risks to Board information and employees during international travel.