Leaked USAID email tells staff to 'shred and burn classified documents', court filing claims

"Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break," a leaked email read.

Just weeks after President Donald Trump reclaimed the Oval Office, he and his 'First Buddy' Elon Musk took aim at the world's biggest provider of global aid, USAID - which stands for the United States Agency for International Development.

USAID staff were ordered to retrieve their belongings from work (TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)

According to government data, in 2023 the US spent $68 billion on international aid, which equates to 0.6 percent of the government's annual budget of $6.75 trillion.

President Donald Trump slammed its spending as being 'totally unexplainable', while the Tesla CEO labeled it a 'criminal organization' and said it was 'time for it to die'.

They have since fired around 1,600 employees and placed a further 4,200 workers on leave, but the pair are determined to cut the workforce from around 10,000 to around 500.

It has now been claimed that the Trump administration has ordered remaining USAID staff to 'shred and burn classified documents', according to a court filing lodged by a union on behalf of the former employees.

Alleged email from USAID official ordering staff to 'shred and burn' documents (Court filing)

The leaked email allegedly sent by Acting Executive Secretary Erica Y. Carr, ordered employees to take part in a mass destruction of documents event yesterday (March 11), at its headquarters in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, Washington DC.

It read in part: "Shred as many documents first, and reserve the burn bags for when the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break.

"It you need to use the burn bags, do not overfill, and ensure the burn bag can be closed with staples at the top."

The plaintiffs are hoping that the US District Court for the District of Columbia, will rule in its favor of placing a temporary restraining order on its workers to prevent the 'destruction of evidence'.

"Plaintiffs file this emergency motion for temporary restraining order to stop Defendants' imminent and ongoing destruction of evidence," the filing read.

Protestors hold signs as people gather outside the Ronald Reagan Building during a 'clap out' in support of USAID staff that were fired (TING SHEN/AFP via Getty Images)

"Defendants are, as this motion is being filed, destroying documents with potential pertinence to this litigation."

Trump may be able to massively downsize USAID using executive orders, but he would likely need the support of Congress to actually shut it down altogether.

This is because Congress established USAID as an independent agency in 1998, having first been created in 1961 by John F. Kennedy.

Just Security explains: "Litigation and congressional oversight are certain to follow, but the question is how effective either will be in the immediate term at stopping the most damaging impacts for USAID’s programs and its employees.

"The details of the E.O. will shape how specific challenges to the action unfold, but expect to see at a minimum suits brought by beneficiaries of USAID programs, impoundment act challenges, and more.”