Recent directives at the U.S. Agency for International Development have sparked controversy over the destruction of classified materials crucial to ongoing legal battles.
# U.S.A.I.D. Under Fire for Allegedly Destroying Key Documents
# U.S.A.I.D. Under Fire for Allegedly Destroying Key Documents
U.S.A.I.D employees instructed to shred or burn records amid ongoing litigation concerns.
In an alarming move, a senior official at the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) instructed staff to dispose of classified documents and personnel files, potentially violating federal regulations and impacting ongoing legal cases against the agency.
On March 11, 2025, acting executive secretary Erica Y. Carr sent an email directing employees to empty safes containing classified materials and sensitive personnel records. The message emphasized that staff should shred documents first and resort to burning them only if the shredders were unavailable. This directive has raised serious concerns, especially given the recent firings of a significant number of employees and the ongoing dismantlement of the agency as part of the Trump administration's broader strategy.
The legality of this directive is questionable, as it may not have followed the Federal Records Act of 1950, which requires government officials to secure permission from the National Archives and Records Administration before destroying any documents. The destruction of these records could hinder multiple ongoing court cases related to mass firings, abrupt relocations of employees, and the sudden cessation of foreign aid.
Despite inquiries, both the State Department and U.S.A.I.D. have remained silent on the issue. The American Foreign Service Association, representing career diplomats and involved in active litigation, expressed alarm over the news, highlighting that the destruction of such documents could impede legal proceedings concerning unlawful terminations and grant suspensions connected to the agency.
As the situation develops, it raises important questions about transparency, legal compliance, and accountability within U.S.A.I.D. and the broader implications for U.S. foreign aid and diplomacy.
On March 11, 2025, acting executive secretary Erica Y. Carr sent an email directing employees to empty safes containing classified materials and sensitive personnel records. The message emphasized that staff should shred documents first and resort to burning them only if the shredders were unavailable. This directive has raised serious concerns, especially given the recent firings of a significant number of employees and the ongoing dismantlement of the agency as part of the Trump administration's broader strategy.
The legality of this directive is questionable, as it may not have followed the Federal Records Act of 1950, which requires government officials to secure permission from the National Archives and Records Administration before destroying any documents. The destruction of these records could hinder multiple ongoing court cases related to mass firings, abrupt relocations of employees, and the sudden cessation of foreign aid.
Despite inquiries, both the State Department and U.S.A.I.D. have remained silent on the issue. The American Foreign Service Association, representing career diplomats and involved in active litigation, expressed alarm over the news, highlighting that the destruction of such documents could impede legal proceedings concerning unlawful terminations and grant suspensions connected to the agency.
As the situation develops, it raises important questions about transparency, legal compliance, and accountability within U.S.A.I.D. and the broader implications for U.S. foreign aid and diplomacy.
