USAID Staff Ordered to Destroy Classified Documents as Agency Faces Shutdown

Elon Musk's leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency accelerates the dismantling of USAID, raising legal and ethical concerns over document destruction.

A directive from acting USAID Executive Secretary Erica Carr instructs essential staff to shred classified documents and use burn bags for disposal when shredders are unavailable.
The destruction of documents is reportedly in probable violation of the Federal Records Act, which mandates the retention of government records for specified periods.
The dismantling of USAID is part of a broader effort by Elon Musk, leading the Department of Government Efficiency, to drastically cut federal spending and jobs under the Trump administration.
USAID’s closure has halted over 5,200 international aid projects, drawing criticism from development experts and concerns about impacts on vulnerable populations worldwide.
Democratic lawmakers and advocacy groups have raised alarms about the legality of the document purge and its implications for ongoing litigation and oversight investigations.