Wed Mar 12 13:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Federal Judge Ordered to Halt Potential Destruction of USAID Documents Amid Agency Shutdown
**Washington, D.C. –** A federal judge has been asked to intervene in the potential destruction of classified documents at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) following an email instructing staff to shred and burn agency records. The order, issued by Judge Carl Nichols, comes amid the Trump administration’s controversial dismantling of USAID, which has seen the termination of 83% of its programs and the firing of the vast majority of its staff.
The email, allegedly sent by USAID’s acting executive secretary Erica Carr, directed staff to shred documents and burn classified materials if the shredder capacity was exceeded, marking the bags with “secret.” This action has prompted outrage, with the Personal Services Contractor Association (PSCA), representing thousands of furloughed or fired USAID contractors, filing a lawsuit to halt the document destruction and preserve evidence relevant to ongoing litigation against the agency’s shutdown.
The PSCA’s lawsuit alleges that the administration’s actions violate federal records laws governing the handling and disposal of classified materials. Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, echoed these concerns, accusing the administration of attempting to destroy evidence of wrongdoing. The American Foreign Service Association also expressed alarm, stating that the destroyed documents could be crucial to ongoing lawsuits related to USAID’s firings and program terminations.
The controversy follows the suspension of USAID’s top two security officials last month after they refused access to classified material for members of Elon Musk’s government-cutting teams. While one advisor to a Musk-associated entity denied unauthorized access to classified information, the current situation highlights concerns about the potential loss of vital records amid the agency’s rapid downsizing. The State Department has yet to comment on the allegations or confirm whether proper document destruction procedures were followed. Judge Nichols has set a Wednesday deadline for both parties to address the court on the matter.
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