A union representing U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) contractors has asked a federal judge to block the destruction of classified documents after an internal email directed staffers to burn and shred agency records.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols has ordered both the plaintiffs and the government to submit legal briefs by Wednesday morning addressing the issue. The request comes as the Trump administration continues to dismantle USAID, slashing funding, shutting down 83% of its programs, and dismissing most of its workforce.
Controversial Email Raises Alarm
The email in question, reportedly sent by Erica Carr, the acting executive secretary at USAID, instructed employees to clear classified safes and personnel records at the agency’s Washington headquarters. Staffers were directed to “shred as many documents first” and to place any remaining classified materials into designated burn bags if shredding demand exceeded capacity. Employees were also told to mark the bags with the word “secret.”
A source familiar with the email, who spoke anonymously for fear of reprisal, confirmed that it was sent to select essential personnel.
The State Department has not responded to inquiries about whether the agency was following legally mandated procedures for handling classified documents. Under federal law, the retention and disposal of classified records are strictly regulated, and improper destruction could lead to criminal charges.
Legal and Political Fallout
The Personal Services Contractor Association, which represents thousands of contractors who were either furloughed or dismissed in the agency’s restructuring, filed an emergency motion urging the court to intervene. The group argues that document destruction could interfere with ongoing lawsuits challenging USAID’s closure and mass terminations.
Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, condemned the alleged document destruction, suggesting it was an attempt to cover up wrongdoing.
“Haphazardly shredding and burning USAID documents and personnel files seems like a great way to get rid of evidence of wrongdoing when you’re illegally dismantling the agency,” Meeks said in a statement.
The American Foreign Service Association, which represents USAID workers, also expressed concern that destroyed documents might contain critical information related to lawsuits against the agency.
Classified Documents and Security Concerns
The issue of USAID’s classified documents first gained attention last month when the Trump administration placed the agency’s top two security officials on leave. The move came after they allegedly refused to grant access to classified material for members of an internal restructuring team linked to Elon Musk.
The Associated Press previously reported that some of these classified documents included intelligence reports. However, Kate Miller, a member of an advisory board overseeing the restructuring, insisted that no classified material was accessed without proper security clearances.
With USAID’s workforce dramatically reduced, only a handful of remaining staffers have access to agency systems, raising further concerns about the handling of sensitive government records.
As the legal battle unfolds, the fate of USAID’s documents—and the agency itself—remains uncertain.
