USAID undergoes mass destruction of classified documents amid controversy
Kumar Shivam | Mar 12, 2025, 00:35 IST
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The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has begun destroying large quantities of classified documents at its Washington DC headquarters. The move, confirmed through an internal email, has raised concerns over legal compliance and transparency amid restructuring efforts led by the Trump administration's "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge), overseen by Elon Musk. This development comes as USAID faces significant cuts and project halts under the current administration.
USAID’s document destruction process
An internal email from acting USAID Secretary Erica Y Carr has confirmed the ongoing destruction of classified documents at the agency’s headquarters in Washington DC. The email, sent to staff, outlined the use of shredders and "burn bags" for the destruction of sensitive materials marked as "SECRET." Employees have been instructed to prioritize shredding and use the burn bags when necessary, ensuring all classified materials are disposed of properly.
Timing and context of the purge
This purge of documents comes at a time of turmoil for USAID, which has been significantly impacted by efforts to overhaul federal agencies. Under the leadership of Elon Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge), USAID has been forced to make deep cuts, affecting numerous projects across the globe. As a result, many programs aimed at helping vulnerable populations have been paused or severely reduced, drawing criticism from both USAID employees and the international development community.
Legal and ethical concerns
The timing of the document destruction raises questions about whether USAID is complying with federal regulations. Under the Federal Records Act (FRA), government agencies are required to retain records for a specified period, usually a minimum of three years, before they can be destroyed. The ongoing destruction of classified documents could violate these legal requirements, especially since it is unclear whether USAID has transferred all necessary records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or to successor agencies.
Political reactions and future scrutiny
Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have raised concerns about the actions taken by the Trump administration and the restructuring efforts led by Doge. In February, Democratic senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking clarification about Doge’s access to USAID’s records and whether the agency’s operations were being properly managed. However, the letter did not address the issue of document destruction directly. The situation remains under scrutiny as questions continue to mount about transparency and accountability within the agency.
An internal email from acting USAID Secretary Erica Y Carr has confirmed the ongoing destruction of classified documents at the agency’s headquarters in Washington DC. The email, sent to staff, outlined the use of shredders and "burn bags" for the destruction of sensitive materials marked as "SECRET." Employees have been instructed to prioritize shredding and use the burn bags when necessary, ensuring all classified materials are disposed of properly.
Timing and context of the purge
This purge of documents comes at a time of turmoil for USAID, which has been significantly impacted by efforts to overhaul federal agencies. Under the leadership of Elon Musk’s "Department of Government Efficiency" (Doge), USAID has been forced to make deep cuts, affecting numerous projects across the globe. As a result, many programs aimed at helping vulnerable populations have been paused or severely reduced, drawing criticism from both USAID employees and the international development community.
Legal and ethical concerns
The timing of the document destruction raises questions about whether USAID is complying with federal regulations. Under the Federal Records Act (FRA), government agencies are required to retain records for a specified period, usually a minimum of three years, before they can be destroyed. The ongoing destruction of classified documents could violate these legal requirements, especially since it is unclear whether USAID has transferred all necessary records to the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) or to successor agencies.
Political reactions and future scrutiny
Members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have raised concerns about the actions taken by the Trump administration and the restructuring efforts led by Doge. In February, Democratic senators sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio seeking clarification about Doge’s access to USAID’s records and whether the agency’s operations were being properly managed. However, the letter did not address the issue of document destruction directly. The situation remains under scrutiny as questions continue to mount about transparency and accountability within the agency.