USAID Staff Told to Destroy Documents Amid Agency Dismantling

Employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been instructed to shred and burn classified documents and personnel files, raising concerns among staff and labor groups as the agency faces sweeping dismantlement under the Trump administration.

According to a BBC report, Acting Executive Secretary Erica Y. Carr sent an email to staff thanking them for clearing out classified safes and personnel documents from a Washington, D.C., office. She then directed them to meet in the building's lobby for an "all-day disposal event" on Tuesday.

"Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes available or needs a break," Carr's email read.

The email also instructed employees to label burn bags with the words "SECRET" and "USAID (B/IO)" – indicating a bureau or independent office – using permanent markers. Documents placed in burn bags are typically transported to a secure site for incineration.

The BBC, which obtained a copy of the email, confirmed the report was also covered by CBS News and was first revealed by ProPublica. 

The American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), the union representing USAID employees, said it was aware of the shredding directive and expressed deep concern.

"We are alarmed by these reports," AFSA spokesperson Nikki Gamer told the BBC, warning that some of the documents may be "relevant to ongoing litigation regarding the termination of USAID employees and the cessation of USAID grants."

The Trump administration faces multiple lawsuits over its moves to dismantle USAID, which began shortly after Trump took office in January. Legal challenges argue that the administration overstepped its authority by attempting to shut down an agency and freeze funds that had been approved by Congress.

AFSA also underscored that federal law mandates the preservation of government records, calling them "essential to transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the legal process."

"The unlawful destruction of federal records could carry serious legal consequences for anyone directed to act in violation of the law," the union warned.

While classified materials and sensitive documents are occasionally destroyed by federal agencies, strict regulations govern the process. Experts noted that Carr’s email lacked key procedural details typically found in official records disposal requests, adding to concerns about compliance with federal law.

USAID was among the first agencies targeted by the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), an entity created by the Trump administration to eliminate waste and fraud in federal bureaucracy. Billionaire Elon Musk, a key figure in the initiative, has previously called USAID "evil," while the White House has argued that its international programs were a waste of taxpayer dollars.

In a matter of weeks, the agency was essentially shut down, with thousands of employees laid off or placed on administrative leave. Many Foreign Service officers stationed abroad were left without clear instructions on how to return home.

Meanwhile, a temporary freeze on foreign aid, including USAID-managed funds, sent shockwaves through the international development sector, forcing some private companies and nonprofits to lay off staff.

Currently, many USAID employees remain on administrative leave, a status that allows them to receive pay but leaves their careers in limbo.

With lawsuits challenging USAID’s dismantling and questions surrounding the potentially unlawful destruction of federal records, legal and political battles over the agency's fate are expected to continue.