(TheIndependentStar.com) – Federal workers at USAID have been instructed to burn and shred classified documents as the Trump administration continues to dismantle the bloated foreign aid agency.
The directive comes as Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that 83% of USAID programs have been canceled.
This revelation marks a major victory for American taxpayers who have long criticized the agency’s wasteful spending abroad.
USAID acting executive secretary Erica Carr sent an email ordering staff to clear out classified safes and personnel documents.
The explicit instructions were to “shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break.”
The document destruction comes as U.S. Customs and Border Protection prepares to take over the agency’s Washington headquarters.
The move is part of President Donald Trump’s commitment to prioritize border security over foreign aid.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly defended the move, explaining the documents were “old, mostly courtesy content (content from other agencies), and the originals still exist on classified computer systems.”
Kelly emphasized that only “roughly three dozen employees” remain at the agency as the administration continues its efficiency overhaul.
The destruction of documents has predictably triggered outrage from left-wing groups.
Democracy Forward and Public Citizen Litigation Group have filed emergency motions trying to halt the process, claiming violations of the Federal Records Act.
These groups have also launched lawsuits challenging the administration’s authority to shut down the agency that once managed a $40 billion budget—money largely sent overseas while America’s own infrastructure crumbled.
USAID’s downsizing represents a major win for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk.
DOGE has been tasked with targeting bloated government agencies that fail to deliver results for the American people.
Most USAID staff have either been laid off or placed on administrative leave as part of the Trump administration’s promise to slash wasteful government spending and redirect resources to critical domestic priorities.
Defense lawyers for the administration have assured concerned parties that no personnel records have been destroyed and promised to notify the court before any further actions.
The White House has maintained that the document disposal process complies with all federal requirements.
The transition from funding foreign projects to enhancing border security underscores the America First policies that voters overwhelmingly supported in returning President Trump to office.
With CBP taking over the former USAID headquarters, the administration is sending a clear message.
Protecting American sovereignty and addressing the border crisis takes priority over sending billions in taxpayer dollars to foreign countries with little accountability or benefit to the American people.
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