The U.S. Agency for International Development has been criticized for potentially unlawful destruction of records relevant to legal disputes following major staffing changes.
U.S.A.I.D. Faces Scrutiny Over Destruction of Classified Documents
U.S.A.I.D. Faces Scrutiny Over Destruction of Classified Documents
Concerns arise as U.S.A.I.D. employees ordered to shred sensitive papers amid ongoing lawsuits.
Following an email from acting executive secretary Erica Y. Carr, employees at the U.S. Agency for International Development (U.S.A.I.D.) have been instructed to dispose of classified and personnel records by shredding or burning them. This directive comes amidst the agency's significant downsizing under the Trump administration, which has included mass layoffs, with many employees recently placed on paid leave or working remotely, leaving headquarters largely vacant.
There are questions about whether U.S.A.I.D. received necessary permissions from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) prior to destroying these documents. The Federal Records Act mandates that federal agencies must seek approval from NARA before removing records, given their potential evidentiary relevance to ongoing litigation concerning the Trump administration's actions, including abrupt employee terminations and funding freezes.
The American Foreign Service Association, representing career diplomats, expressed grave concern regarding the agency's decision, highlighting the risk that discarding sensitive documents could impede judicial processes related to employee layoffs and the discontinuation of grants.
Officials from both the State Department and U.S.A.I.D. have yet to comment on the situation, leaving many unanswered questions about the legality and implications of these actions for current and former employees.
There are questions about whether U.S.A.I.D. received necessary permissions from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) prior to destroying these documents. The Federal Records Act mandates that federal agencies must seek approval from NARA before removing records, given their potential evidentiary relevance to ongoing litigation concerning the Trump administration's actions, including abrupt employee terminations and funding freezes.
The American Foreign Service Association, representing career diplomats, expressed grave concern regarding the agency's decision, highlighting the risk that discarding sensitive documents could impede judicial processes related to employee layoffs and the discontinuation of grants.
Officials from both the State Department and U.S.A.I.D. have yet to comment on the situation, leaving many unanswered questions about the legality and implications of these actions for current and former employees.
