03/13/2025

USAID Official Directs Departing Employees to Use Burn Bags on Documents

They have also been encouraged to shred countless documents

A senior official with the embattled United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sent an email Tuesday to remaining bureau leaders with guidance on "clearing our classified safes and personnel documents" at the aid agency's Washington, D.C., headquarters, according to a copy of the email obtained by ABC News.

The message urged officials to "shred as many documents first" and to "reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break," according to the email, sent by Erica Carr, the acting executive secretary.

"The only labeling required on the burn bags are the words 'SECRET' and 'USAID/(B/IO)' in dark sharpie, if possible," the email said.

Please select this link to read the complete article from ABC News.