The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is instructing its staff in Washington to shred and burn documents, causing alarm among former employees and organizations representing foreign service workers. The move comes as the Trump administration faces legal challenges over its attempt to shut down the federal agency. The document destruction was set to take place on Tuesday, according to an email obtained by NBC News. While the burning or shredding of classified material does happen during certain scenarios, such as emergency situations, some former employees and experts say that the current directive is inappropriate. Legal adviser Harold Koh, who served during President Obama’s administration, stated that the move is not standard procedure and should only be done in emergency scenarios, emphasizing the importance of preserving documents for transparency and accountability. Organizations like the American Foreign Service Association are concerned about the destruction of classified and sensitive documents that may be relevant to ongoing litigation regarding the termination of USAID employees and the cessation of grants. The National Security Counselors law firm has reached out to the National Archives to halt document destruction, raising concerns about the Trump administration’s targeting of USAID and the abrupt changes within the agency, including slashing the workforce and cancelling programs. The situation is being closely monitored, and there are calls for USAID leadership to provide clarity on the directive.
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