Employees at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) were recently directed to dispose of classified materials through shredding and incineration, according to sources familiar with the matter. The order came amid an internal review of sensitive documents, raising questions about the agency’s handling of confidential information.
Reports indicate that staff members received instructions to eliminate specific records deemed highly sensitive, though officials have not publicly confirmed the nature of the materials involved. Some employees reportedly expressed concerns about the timing of the directive, particularly given ongoing scrutiny over federal document retention policies.
A USAID spokesperson stated that the agency routinely follows established procedures for managing classified materials but did not clarify whether the recent directive was linked to a broader investigation or internal policy shift. The move has drawn attention from oversight committees, with lawmakers seeking further details on the rationale behind the document disposal and whether it adhered to federal guidelines.