WASHINGTON (AP) — A union representing contractors at the U.S. Agency for International Development has asked a federal judge to step in to prevent the destruction of classified documents, prompted by an alarming email instructing staff to burn and shred agency records. Judge Carl Nichols has set a deadline for the parties to present their arguments on the matter by Wednesday morning. An anonymous source familiar with the email confirmed that it was sent to some key personnel.
This development comes as the Trump administration is dismantling USAID, discontinuing most federal funding, closing down 83% of humanitarian and development programs overseas, reducing staff numbers significantly, and shutting down the agency’s headquarters in Washington. Legal challenges are mounting against the abrupt termination of U.S. foreign assistance programs and the perceived targeting of the aid agency. In the latest lawsuit, the Personal Services Contractor Association, representing numerous contractors affected by the layoffs and closures, has requested the court to halt any potential destruction of documents to preserve evidence.
The email was purportedly sent by Erica Carr, the acting executive secretary at USAID, and features the agency’s logo. It instructs recipients to assist in clearing classified safes and personnel documents at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, directing them to prioritize shredding documents and preparing to burn any remaining classified material if necessary. Staff members were advised to mark bags containing classified material with the word “secret.”
The State Department has yet to provide a response regarding the email and whether proper procedures are being followed in any document destruction activities. Federal law strictly regulates the handling, retention, and disposal of classified material and records, with violations potentially leading to criminal charges.
Rep. Gregory Meeks criticized the Trump administration for its alleged non-compliance with federal records laws, suggesting that the destruction of documents could be an attempt to conceal wrongdoing during the agency’s restructuring. Concerns have been raised by groups such as the American Foreign Service Association that the destroyed documents may be relevant to ongoing lawsuits related to USAID’s staff cuts and program terminations.
The recent controversy surrounding classified documents at USAID surfaced after the agency’s top security officials were placed on leave for refusing to grant access to classified material to certain government entities. Reports indicate that the material included intelligence reports, though assurances were made that all access was conducted in accordance with security protocols.
The significant staff reductions at USAID have left only a limited number of employees with access to the agency’s systems. ___Reporting by Amiri from the United Nations. Contributions from Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington.___
