“Shred First, Burn Second”: USAID Official Order To Staff

Mass Layoffs, Secret Burn Bags, and a Vanishing Agency—What’s Being Covered Up?

According to a new report from Politico, a senior USAID official has directed the remaining staff at the agency’s Washington headquarters to undertake an “all-day” group effort to destroy documents—some of which contain sensitive information. The email, obtained by Politico, was sent by USAID’s acting executive director, Erica Carr, and instructed staff to prioritize shredding documents and to use burn bags when shredders were unavailable. The burn bags were to be labeled “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO/” in dark Sharpie.

“Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break..”

Erica Carr - USAID acting executive director

The current Acting Executive Secretary of USAID, Erica Carr, who ordered the mass shredding and burning of paper files at USAID today worked in the Obama OPM, then Obama USAID, then was personally named USAID Executive Secretary by Joe Biden IN his first week in office.

This sweeping document purge follows mass layoffs at USAID as the Trump administration, with the backing of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), moves to drastically reduce the agency’s footprint. Once managing a $40 billion annual budget with over 10,000 employees worldwide, USAID has seen its programs slashed by more than 80% under Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The remaining functions of the agency will now be absorbed into the State Department.

“I’ve never seen something like this—en masse,” a former USAID staffer told Politico, noting that while routine document destruction is standard, the scale and urgency of this effort are unprecedented.

The timing of the document purge couldn’t be more suspicious. Just last month, DOGE attempted to access USAID’s secure systems—including classified employee security clearance data—sparking an internal uproar that resulted in two security staffers being placed on administrative leave. Now, those very records may be going up in smoke. The State Department has refused to comment, leaving more questions than answers.

A union for USAID contractors asked a federal judge Tuesday to intervene in any destruction of classified documents after an email ordered staffers to help burn and shred agency records. Personal Services Contractor Association, representing thousands of contractors now furloughed or fired from USAID, asked the judge to stop any document destruction to preserve evidence. The email was sent by Erica Carr, USAID acting executive secretary. The State Department did not respond about the email, including whether they were following the legally required procedures in any destruction of documents. The collection, retention and disposal of classified material and federal records are closely regulated by federal law.

Rep. Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said “Haphazardly shredding and burning USAID documents and personnel files seems like a great way to get rid of evidence of wrongdoing when you’re illegally dismantling the agency,”

A group representing USAID workers, the American Foreign Service Association, said in a statement that it feared documents being destroyed could be relevant to the ongoing lawsuits over USAID’s firings and program terminations. The Associated Press reported that the classified material included intelligence reports. Kate Miller, who serves on an advisory board for DOGE, said at the time that no classified material was accessed “without proper security clearances.”

This isn’t just about bureaucratic restructuring—it’s a full-scale purge, both of personnel and potentially incriminating information. USAID’s mass layoffs, ongoing legal battles, and now this frantic rush to destroy documents paint a picture of an administration racing to wipe the slate clean. The long-term consequences for U.S. foreign aid and development remain uncertain, but one thing is clear: USAID, as we knew it, is gone.

The real question is—what exactly are they trying to bury? A new study from the Middle East Forum, documenting how, over the past decade, substantial amounts of U.S. federal funding have ended up in the hands of Islamist groups—both foreign and domestic. The multi-year study was the result of MEF research and advocacy seeking USAID reform and going back to the Obama administration. Over $164 million in approved grants—$122 million of which ended up supporting radical and terror-tied organizations—were funneled through USAID’s foreign aid program. This includes entities linked to Hamas, Hezbollah, and Al-Qaeda affiliates.

Samantha Power’s USAID: $18.5 Billion Funneled to Islamist Terror States at America’s Expense

---