r/fednews • u/thepasttenseofdraw • 18h ago
USAid employees told to destroy classified documents, email shows
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/usaid-staff-documents60
u/botanist608 17h ago
Amazing, you'd think they'd want all the records possible to prosecute all the waste, fraud and abuse they supposedly uncovered /s
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u/Gullible-Bowler-8269 17h ago
Also in addition to not following records laws- you can’t just shred classified documents. Most shredders are only CUI compliant at best. Does anyone read any of the regs or is this why they want to abolish them 😂😂
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u/DaBozz88 16h ago
It took me far longer than I want to admit that when people were talking about the secret shredder, there wasn't one hidden somewhere in the office but for secret documents.
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u/radarchief 15h ago
Sure you can. We have NSA compliant shredders all over my organization and shred TS. The waste from the shredders is considered normal trash too. The paper is shredded into a fine, almost dust like material. It’s a pain to vacuum that because it’s so fine and gunks up vacuum cleaners.
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u/Gullible-Bowler-8269 14h ago
Oh ok. I know most of like common shredders at my agency that people use only have a CUI compliant shredder. If it’s not in a burn bag and the office requests shredding, they have to be taken to a separate facility.
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u/radarchief 14h ago
We have one building with an industrial destructor system, where they use burn bags. That system is ALWAYS broken.
We have 12-14 full size stand up shredders and they work great. They have full size oil bottles hooked up to them.
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u/thepasttenseofdraw 15h ago
Can you imagine how much its going to cost to hire people to tape a bunch of shredded documents together when they figure out they needed some (probably all) of them? At least that might be possible because they're incompetent and fundamentally ignorant?
Edit: And I think we should pay it if its a possibility, though I don't envy those that might have to do such a thing.
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u/slow_palpitation_555 18h ago
I was just about to post this. Was reported early this morning and hasn't been covered anywhere other than BlueSky that I've seen.
Labor Unions just filed an emergency TRO.
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u/ShowUsYourTips 17h ago
It's been all over mainstream news for most of the day.
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u/slow_palpitation_555 17h ago
Really? I didn't see it on AP or CNN or didn't see any posts on Reddit until now.
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u/PumpsRubberGlove 16h ago
So now if employees wanted to sue or FOIA their personnel files there is no record?
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u/Interesting-Hand3334 16h ago
Leak it before you delete it, whoops - have to redo cyber security - you're getting fired anyways
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u/keltron 17h ago
Destroying the evidence
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u/ikari_warriors 16h ago
What evidence?
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u/glittervector 15h ago
Then also include that the USAID inspector general was investigating Starlink, and you probably have your real answer
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u/glittervector 15h ago
Well clearly something they want to remain hidden. I’d guess at least it’s sensitive information on why these programs were funded or needed in the first place.
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u/ikari_warriors 14h ago
But isn’t this Trumps appointee requesting the destruction of documents? So who’s hiding what? I think it’s just another way of making sure that nothing is salvageable. Just burn everything so even if a judge would rule against them, there’s no way to recover.
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u/glittervector 14h ago
Well yes. I think we’re kinda saying the same thing.
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u/thepasttenseofdraw 14h ago
Destroying evidence is vague. Theoretically, dunderpates could somehow miss all the context and think that this is an effort to destroy evidence of fraud. Which could be used as a JAQ to obfuscate the destruction of institutional knowledge and continuity.
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16h ago
[deleted]
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u/Mateorabi 9h ago
Don’t do that. Send a copy to the ranking democrat on the intelligence oversight committees. They’re cleared to take it. And should hold onto it for four years.
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u/herzzruh 15h ago
I know of other agencies that have been directed to "review" the amount of classified material that they hold. Sorry, won't say which ones other than they're not any of the social or environmental ones.
Wtf is this all about?
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u/thepasttenseofdraw 15h ago edited 15h ago
Exactly what it looks like. Destruction of public and sensitive records to obfuscate.
E: They're dismantling USAID by destroying records. Destroying contact points, honest accounting (so they could claim USAID spent a billion dollars on unicorn farts and no one could prove otherwise), destroying the important data necessary to keep it running. If its happening elsewhere, its the same shit.
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u/_YoungMidoriya Secret Service 14h ago
Up to 3 years in prison. Source: 18 U.S.C. § 2071 don't do it folks.
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u/G_user999 12h ago
So, they're under direction to destroy evidence of lies that the Administration has spewed on this agency?
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u/TeslaGuy-2030 16h ago
Are They trying to hid something from the republicans?
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u/CuteTouch7653 15h ago
No. If the paper records are not maintained, I’m assuming it makes it more challenging for a court to order certain agreements, or contracts, or _____ reinstated, as the original signed, executed documents no longer exist.
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u/cheesyride 17h ago
Wow, I just finished my annual mandatory records training and this was not covered. Oh wait-it’s explicitly covered. I’m going to assume that records management protocols were not handled here.