The USAID network has entered a self-destructive crisis from within. A senior USAID official instructed the agency's remaining staff to gather at the agency's current headquarters in Washington in an effort to destroy documents stored there, many of which contain sensitive information.
The materials earmarked for destruction include the contents of the agency's "classified vaults and personnel documents" in the Ronald Reagan Building, according to an email sent by USAID's acting executive director, Erica Carr, Politico reports.
“Burn and shred as many documents as possible first and reserve the burned bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs to rest,” the email said. Carr instructed staff to label the burned bags with the words “SECRET” and “USAID,” A2 writes.
The email did not specify any reason for the destruction of the documents. The building is being vacated after mass layoffs, which may have disrupted routine document destruction schedules. Customs and Border Protection is planning to move into the USAID facility, having leased 390,000 square feet of office space in the building last month.
The effort also underscores the turbulent way in which the Trump administration is dismantling an agency that once managed an annual budget of $40 billion and had more than 10,000 staff worldwide.
Musk's Department of Government Efficiency's efforts last month to access secure computer systems at USAID — including information about employee security clearances — caused an uproar at the agency that prompted the administration to place two of the agency's security staff on administrative leave.
A DOGE spokesperson later said there was no improper access to classified material. (A2 Televizion)
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