The United States Agency for International Development (USAid) finds itself at the center of a controversy involving the destruction of classified documents. This development comes in the wake of significant budget cuts imposed by the so-called "department of government efficiency" (Doge), led by Elon Musk under the Trump administration. As Doge aims to streamline federal government operations by reducing jobs and expenditures, USAid emerges as one of the most affected agencies.
The sweeping cuts have halted or shuttered numerous USAid projects worldwide, raising concerns about the agency's ability to fulfill its international development mission. Amid these challenges, USAid officials have reportedly commenced a large-scale destruction of classified materials at their headquarters. The process involves the use of shredders and "burn bags" conspicuously marked "SECRET," potentially breaching the Federal Records Act (FRA). The FRA mandates a minimum retention period of three years for government records, ensuring their availability for Freedom of Information Act (Foia) requests and future investigations.
Erica Y Carr, a key figure within USAid, reportedly instructed staff on document disposal procedures.
“Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” – Erica Y Carr
These actions have sparked a widespread outcry among USAid workers and the broader international development sector. Concerns are mounting that essential evidence could be permanently lost, impacting ongoing Foia requests and potential oversight inquiries.
The Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have responded by sending a letter to the Secretary of State in February. They demanded clarification regarding Doge's access to USAid headquarters and agency records. However, this correspondence did not specifically address the potential destruction of documents. The State Department has yet to comment on the situation despite requests for clarification.
The international development community and USAid staff express deep concern over these developments. With projects across the globe paused or defunded, the agency's ability to deliver vital aid is increasingly jeopardized. The document destruction adds another layer of complexity, potentially obstructing accountability and transparency efforts.