WASHINGTON — A union representing contractors at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has requested a federal judge’s intervention to prevent the destruction of classified documents. This appeal follows an email directive instructing personnel to incinerate and shred agency records.
Judge Carl Nichols has mandated both the plaintiffs and the federal government to submit briefings by Wednesday morning. A source, remaining anonymous due to potential backlash, confirmed that the email was dispatched to some key staff members.
This development arises amid the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to dismantle USAID, including significant cuts to federal funding and the termination of approximately 83% of overseas humanitarian and development projects. The agency has been largely stripped of its workforce, with most employees furloughed or dismissed, and its headquarters in Washington have essentially ceased operations.
Various lawsuits have emerged in response to the sudden cessation of the majority of U.S. foreign aid and the purported targeting of the aid agency. The Personal Services Contractor Association, which represents a substantial number of contractors now either laid off or facing furlough, has brought a new legal action asking the judge to halt any destruction of documents to secure potential evidence.
The email, attributed to acting executive secretary Erica Carr, bears USAID’s official logo. It expresses gratitude for the staff’s support in managing classified safes and personnel files at the Washington DC headquarters.
Staff members were instructed to return to work on Tuesday and commence by shredding as many documents as possible. Should the shredding equipment reach its capacity, they were to place the remaining classified items into bags earmarked for burning. They were further instructed to label these bags as “secret.”
The State Department did not respond promptly to inquiries regarding the email and whether all legal procedures for document disposal are being adhered to. According to federal law, collecting, retaining, and disposing of classified materials and records must be meticulously regulated. Mishandling these processes can potentially lead to criminal charges.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, criticized the Trump administration for allegedly contravening federal record-keeping statutes. In a statement, he remarked that “recklessly shredding and incinerating USAID documents and personnel files might conveniently eliminate evidence of misconduct amid unlawfully dismantling the agency.”
The American Foreign Service Association, representing USAID employees, voiced concerns that important documents potentially relevant to ongoing litigation regarding USAID’s personnel and program eliminations could be destroyed.
The classified document crisis came to light last month when the Trump administration placed USAID’s top two security officials on leave, following their refusal to allow members of Elon Musk’s government-reduction teams access to classified materials.
An earlier report indicated that some of the classified content might comprise intelligence reports. Kate Miller, a DOGE advisory board member, emphasized that no classified materials were accessed without the necessary security clearances.
Widespread staff dismissals at USAID have significantly reduced the number of employees with access to agency systems.
