USAID Official Orders Staff to Shred and Burn All Documents, Including Classified Ones

By: David Gregoire | March 13, 2025

Read more at https://libertyonenews.com/usaid-official-orders-staff-to-shred-and-burn-all-documents-including-classified-ones/

The Biden administration is facing what could be one of the most egregious cases of illegal government misconduct in modern history. A bombshell email from a senior official at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has exposed a massive, coordinated effort to destroy crucial documents—an action that appears not only unethical but possibly criminal.

The email, sent by Erica Carr, USAID’s acting executive secretary, instructed staff to gather at the agency’s former headquarters and either shred or burn remaining documents. This is not routine cleanup—this is a calculated attempt to erase evidence.

Carr’s directive explicitly ordered employees to use shredders first but, if necessary, to resort to burn bags—a method historically used to dispose of classified material in emergency situations, not as part of standard operations.

She went even further, demanding that the burn bags be labeled “SECRET” and “USAID/B/IO/” with a dark Sharpie, and cautioned staff not to overfill them, instead securing them with staples. The specificity of these instructions strongly suggests that highly sensitive and possibly incriminating materials are being systematically destroyed under orders from top officials.

This raises urgent questions: What exactly is being destroyed? Why now? And most importantly, who is ordering this cover-up? A former USAID official confirmed to Politico that this scale of document destruction is unprecedented, stating, “I’ve never seen something like this—en masse.”

That is a stunning admission from someone with insider knowledge. Normally, strict protocols govern the handling and retention of classified documents, ensuring that vital information remains available for oversight and legal review. The abrupt urgency behind these orders strongly suggests that someone is trying to eliminate evidence before it can be scrutinized.

The timing of this revelation could not be more suspicious. NBC News has reported that ongoing legal challenges against the Biden administration’s attempts to shut down USAID have triggered an emergency motion to halt the document destruction. This motion argues that the rushed disposal of records could impact ongoing litigation and prevent the agency from reconstructing its operations if the lawsuit succeeds. In other words, by obliterating these documents, officials may be actively obstructing justice—a federal crime.

The case is now in the hands of U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, who has yet to rule on the emergency motion. However, both parties must submit a status report by tomorrow, outlining the legal path forward. If the court does not immediately intervene, there is a real risk that crucial evidence will be permanently lost, ensuring that those responsible escape accountability.

The conservative response to this scandal has been swift and forceful. Newsmax, The New York Post, and Fox News have all drawn comparisons to past government corruption cases, including the infamous Clinton email scandal and the FBI’s raid on Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate over supposedly mishandled documents. But the difference here is clear: This is not about misfiling or bureaucratic errors—this is about deliberate, high-level destruction of government records, possibly to hide wrongdoing.

Fox News commentators have rightly questioned what the administration is so desperate to keep hidden. If USAID was engaged in lawful, transparent activities, why the sudden rush to erase its paper trail? The American people deserve answers. The implications for national security, oversight, and public trust in government institutions cannot be overstated. If this administration is willing to engage in such blatant misconduct at USAID, what other agencies might be involved in similar cover-ups?

The argument that these document purges are a “necessary security measure” is laughable. The United States has strict declassification procedures and retention policies designed to protect national security while ensuring transparency. What is happening at USAID is not security—it is sabotage. It is an effort to prevent Congress, the courts, and the American public from ever knowing the full extent of this administration’s misdeeds.

This scandal should serve as a wake-up call to conservatives and all Americans who value accountability. The destruction of government documents on this scale is not just unethical—it is illegal. If it is proven that officials knowingly ordered the destruction of records to evade oversight or interfere with legal proceedings, those responsible must face criminal charges. This includes not only those carrying out the orders but also those at the highest levels who issued them.

Congress must immediately launch an investigation into this cover-up, subpoenaing all communications related to the directive and holding those responsible to account. The Justice Department, if it truly cares about upholding the law rather than protecting the Biden administration, should open a criminal probe into whether this constitutes obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and violations of federal record-keeping laws.

The hypocrisy on display here is staggering. The same Democratic establishment that weaponized the justice system against Donald Trump over document storage is now caught red-handed engaging in mass destruction of potentially incriminating records. Where is the outrage from the mainstream media? Where are the breathless reports about “threats to democracy” and “government accountability”? The silence is deafening.

This cannot be allowed to stand. If USAID officials, or anyone in the Biden administration, are destroying records to cover their tracks, they must be investigated, prosecuted, and punished to the fullest extent of the law. If the American people let this go unchallenged, it sets a dangerous precedent—one where government officials can erase their misdeeds without consequence. That is not how a democracy functions. That is how corruption festers and grows unchecked.

The courts, Congress, and the public must demand full transparency. Every destroyed document, every erased file, and every burned record represents an attack on the rule of law. If justice is not served in this case, it will only embolden future administrations to engage in even greater corruption. The time to act is now.

About the Author David Gregoire

Darnell Thompkins is a Canadian-born American and conservative opinion writer who brings a unique perspective to political and cultural discussions. Passionate about traditional values and individual freedoms, Darnell’s commentary reflects his commitment to fostering meaningful dialogue. When he’s not writing, he enjoys watching hockey and celebrating the sport that connects his Canadian roots with his American journey.