Trump Administration Directs USAID Staff to Shred and Burn Government Records, Prompting Emergency Lawsuit

American Oversight filed an emergency lawsuit against USAID, the National Archives, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio after reports emerged that Trump administration officials directed USAID staff to shred and burn classified and personnel documents. The lawsuit alleged violations of the Federal Records Act, Freedom of Information Act, and Administrative Procedure Act. According to the complaint, the directive to destroy records came as part of the administration's broader effort to dismantle USAID. The lawsuit sought to halt the destruction of public records and preserve government accountability. This action represented one of the first major legal challenges to alleged systematic obstruction of federal transparency laws under the Trump administration's return to power.

"Staff at USAID had been directed to shred and burn classified and personnel documents." — From American Oversight's lawsuit complaint filed March 12, 2026, describing allegations from USAID staff witnesses