Union representatives demanded that the aid agency follow the law stated in the Federal Records Act. Defense lawyers argued that officials had not destroyed personnel records and would not destroy any more documents without notification.

A senior official at the main U.S. aid agency, which is being dismantled by the Trump administration, told employees to clear safes holding classified documents and personnel files by shredding the papers or putting them into bags for burning, according to an email sent to the staff.

The email, sent by Erica Y. Carr, the acting executive secretary, told employees of the U.S. Agency for International Development to empty out the classified safes and personnel document files on Tuesday. “Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” Ms. Carr wrote, according to a copy of the email obtained by The New York Times.

  • hansolo@lemm.eeEnglish
    254·
    1 month ago

    This is the year 2025, and you all are worried about paper records?

    Stop to think…where does a paper classified record come from? If “printed from a classified computer” didn’t cross your mind, I suggest you check your underinformed outrage. Anything old enough to be historical should already be at the National Archives.

    USAID is moving out of all its offices, so getting rid of paper copies of records falls squarely into Federal records retention policies.