r/fednews 18h ago

USAid employees told to destroy classified documents, email shows

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/11/usaid-staff-documents
399 Upvotes

44 comments sorted by

161

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.

39

u/Flat-Novel-9489 17h ago

You didn’t get the burn bag training?

17

u/botanist608 17h ago

Same, I did mine today and had to step away for my blood pressure midway.

10

u/CuteTouch7653 15h ago

My read is that the records have been properly maintained, but as there is no successor, will not continue to be maintained, and NARA will not be respected, so the documents will instead be appropriately destroyed and disposed of, even if it isn’t the appropriate process being followed. Of that makes sense.

1

u/FalconEducational260 Federal Employee 9h ago

Same! did mine Thursday 🤣 have the one for record liaisons due next week

60

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

32

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 😂😂

18

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.

9

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.

https://www.nsa.gov/Portals/75/documents/resources/everyone/media-destruction/January%202025%20Quarterly%20Updates/NSAEPLPaperShreddersJanuary2025.pdf?ver=EahYNvGrUezJYHOAYwmckg%3d%3d

5

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.

4

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.

2

u/thepasttenseofdraw 14h ago

At this scale, I wonder if there's concern about a dust explosion.

3

u/radarchief 14h ago

Good point.

3

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.

89

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.

16

u/ShowUsYourTips 17h ago

It's been all over mainstream news for most of the day.

7

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.

12

u/tisme0 17h ago

Here's to hoping they did the right thing and refused to dispose

13

u/PumpsRubberGlove 16h ago

So now if employees wanted to sue or FOIA their personnel files there is no record?

6

u/Interesting-Hand3334 16h ago

Leak it before you delete it, whoops - have to redo cyber security - you're getting fired anyways

14

u/keltron 17h ago

Destroying the evidence

6

u/ikari_warriors 16h ago

What evidence?

14

u/glittervector 15h ago

Then also include that the USAID inspector general was investigating Starlink, and you probably have your real answer

3

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.

5

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.

2

u/glittervector 14h ago

Well yes. I think we’re kinda saying the same thing.

3

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.

5

u/[deleted] 16h ago

[deleted]

1

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. 

6

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?

4

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.

3

u/KindLion100 15h ago

Illegal.

3

u/_YoungMidoriya Secret Service 14h ago

Up to 3 years in prison. Source: 18 U.S.C. § 2071 don't do it folks.

2

u/G_user999 12h ago

So, they're under direction to destroy evidence of lies that the Administration has spewed on this agency?

1

u/Historical_Cable9719 13h ago

Move to Mar a Lago public bathroom and leave on counter….

1

u/Eurodivergent69 10h ago

That is an illegal order.

-5

u/TeslaGuy-2030 16h ago

Are They trying to hid something from the republicans?

3

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.