USAID Employees Instructed to Destroy Classified Documents Amid Transition
Washington — Recent emails have revealed that employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been directed to dispose of classified safes and personnel documents located in their headquarters at the Ronald Reagan Building. These instructions have raised concerns about potential breaches in record-keeping protocols.
Details of the Directive
In a communication sent to staff by Erica Carr, the acting executive secretary of USAID, employees were ordered to begin clearing out classified materials at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Reports indicate that the instructions include shredding sensitive documents, with a contingency plan for burning them if shredders become unavailable. The email specifically advised employees to properly label any burn bags with “SECRET” and “USAID/(B/IO)” using a dark sharpie.
Potential Implications
The documents slated for destruction could potentially serve as evidence in ongoing court cases against the Trump administration, as outlined by a source familiar with the situation. In response to this development, deputy press secretary Anna Kelly stated on social media that these actions are part of preparations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) taking occupancy of the building. She claimed the materials being destroyed are mostly outdated documents, with originals retained in classified computer systems.
Compliance and Record-keeping Concerns
An administration official emphasized that the process follows the Federal Records Act, stating that the actions were part of routine preparations for the transition of office space for CBP. According to the official, all employees involved possess a Secret level security clearance or higher, ensuring the proper handling of documents.
Conflicting Instructions for Staff
In a subsequent email sent on the same Tuesday, USAID staff was notified to come to the annex office to retrieve personal belongings over a three-day period. This communication indicated that staff must adhere to proper records management practices per the Federal Records Act, which appears to contradict the earlier directive regarding the destruction of documents.
Legal Actions in Response to Document Destruction
Following the email communications, the organizations Democracy Forward and Public Citizen Litigation Group filed a motion seeking an emergency temporary restraining order to halt what they described as illegal destruction of federal records at USAID. This legal action highlights broader concerns regarding accountability and transparency in the handling of governmental records.
Response from the State Department
The State Department has yet to publicly comment on either the email directives or the list of terminated USAID grants. Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently noted that 83% of USAID programs have been canceled, calling into question the future direction of U.S. foreign aid efforts.
During a recent press briefing, spokesperson Tammy Bruce was unable to confirm when a comprehensive list of these terminated grants would be made available, acknowledging the public’s interest in understanding the impact of these changes.
