A senior official at the US Agency for International Development (USAID) directed remaining staff to destroy sensitive documents stored at the agency’s former headquarters in Washington, DC, Politico reported.
Erica Carr, USAID’s acting executive director, instructed staff to spend an “all day” session shredding and burning documents, including contents of classified safes and personnel files. The email specified that burn bags should be labeled with the words “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO/” (bureau or independent office) using a dark Sharpie.
The email did not provide a reason for the document destruction, but it comes amid mass layoffs and the agency’s relocation from the Ronald Reagan Building.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is set to move into the vacated space, having leased 390,000 square feet of office space last month.
The document destruction effort highlights the chaotic dismantling of USAID, which once managed a $40 billion annual budget and employed over 10,000 staff worldwide. The Trump administration has significantly reduced the agency’s operations, canceling more than 80% of its programmes and transferring the remaining ones to the State Department.
The move aligns with President Trump’s broader agenda of shrinking the federal government and reducing foreign aid. However, critics argue that the abrupt closure of USAID undermines global development efforts and leaves a void in international humanitarian assistance.
The directive follows recent controversies involving USAID’s secure computer systems. Last month, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) attempted to access USAID’s systems, including information on employee security clearances, sparking an internal uproar. Two USAID security staff were placed on administrative leave, though DOGE denied any improper access to classified data.
Critics argue that the destruction of sensitive materials could hinder accountability and oversight, particularly as USAID’s programmes are transferred to the State Department.
