In a significant development involving the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), an email obtained by The New York Times reveals that employees have been instructed to destroy classified and personnel documents amid sweeping changes imposed by the Trump administration. Erica Y. Carr, USAID’s acting executive secretary, directed employees to clear safes by shredding documents or placing them in burn bags, according to the email sent on Monday. “Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” Ms. Carr advised in the communication.
This directive comes as the agency undergoes a substantial reduction in workforce, with thousands of employees laid off, some placed on paid leave, and others working from home. Consequently, USAID’s headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building has been largely vacated. However, questions remain over whether Carr or any other officials sought permission from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) before undertaking document destruction, as required by the Federal Records Act of 1950.
The potential destruction of documents has raised concerns about their relevance to ongoing litigations tied to the Trump administration’s abrupt restructuring of USAID. Lawsuits challenging the massive lay-offs, the agency’s dismantling, and a halt on virtually all foreign aid funding have already been filed. The State Department and USAID have yet to comment on these allegations.
In response to the document disposal, at least two groups have made court appeals to halt further destruction. Defense lawyers, in rebuttal, assured that no personnel records had been obliterated and committed to notifying plaintiffs and the court prior to any further destruction of documents at the agency’s headquarters.
The American Foreign Service Association, representing USAID’s career diplomats, has expressed alarm, emphasizing the need to preserve government records. “Federal law is clear: The preservation of government records is essential to transparency, accountability and the integrity of the legal process,” the union asserted, urging full compliance with federal records laws to safeguard employees’ rights.
Typically, diplomats destroy substantial quantities of documents only in extreme situations, such as an impending hostile takeover of an embassy. However, many diplomats were troubled by this sudden directive from Carr, contacting union officials out of concern.
The Federal Records Act mandates that electronic records be effectively managed and accessible. It also stipulates that physical documents should be preserved in an electronic format before any destruction. There’s still uncertainty as to whether USAID employees are adhering to these guidelines with the physical documents in question.
The Trump administration’s reorganization plans include ending USAID’s lease at the Reagan Building. Plans are underway to integrate much of the agency into the State Department under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, who assumed oversight of USAID recently, appointed Pete Marocco to manage day-to-day operations. Marocco has been linked to efforts spearheaded by Elon Musk’s team to suspend foreign aid disbursements and reorganize agency operations.
Amid these changes, a federal judge has mandated the Trump administration to reinstate payments for completed aid work, citing that Congress possesses the authority over foreign aid fund appropriation.
The unfolding events around USAID reflect broader tensions in U.S. foreign aid policy during this administration, leaving the agency’s future operations and staff in a state of uncertainty.
Original Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/11/us/politics/usaid-shred-burn-documents.html
Category : Foreign Aid,United States Politics and Government,Classified Information and State Secrets,Archives and Records,National Archives and Records Administration,State Department,United States Agency for International Development,Rubio, Marco,Erica Y. Carr
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Publish Date: 2025-03-12 07:53:00
