Staffers at what's left of the U.S. Agency for International Development were told to shred and burn documents at agency headquarters in probable violation of the law, according to a report.
Devex reported the email written by Erica Y. Carr, the acting executive secretary of USAID, was sent to a group of staffers who were deemed “essential” and not placed on administrative leave. It instructed them to destroy classified and personnel documents.
"Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” read the email obtained by Devex.
Staffers were told to use Sharpie markers to label the burn bags with the word “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO,” which indicates the bureau or office, but the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA) said the orders may violate federal records preservation laws.
“[We are] alarmed by reports that USAID has directed the destruction of classified and sensitive documents that may be relevant to ongoing litigation regarding the termination of USAID employees and the cessation of USAID grants," said a spokesperson for AFSA, the union for foreign service officers at USAID.
The spokesperson said regulations set out in the Federal Records Act of 1950 “establish strict requirements for the retention of official records, particularly those that may be relevant to legal proceedings.”
“Furthermore, the unlawful destruction of federal records could carry serious legal consequences for anyone directed to act in violation of the law,” the spokesperson added.
Donald Trump's administration closed USAID's headquarters, recalled its overseas staff and canceled 5,200 of the agency's projects as part of Elon Musk's government-wide budget cuts, although a federal judge ruled the president had overstepped his constitutional authority by freezing congressionally approved spending on humanitarian and development work abroad.
“I do not see how this follows protocol. There are a lot of rules around documents. Especially classified. And given the court cases, etc.," a USAID staff member placed on administrative leave told Devex.