The judge asked to intervene after the USAID workers were told to destroy classified documents

A contractor union of the International Development Agency (USAID) asked a federal judge to intervene after an email instructed his staff in Washington to destroy and burned specific documents. The agency has been the focus center in recent weeks such as Government Efficiency Department (Doge) continues its mission of reducing government size.

A group that represents USAID workersThe American Foreign Service Association said in a statement that it was afraid that documents be destroyed could be relevant to the current demands on USAID layoffs and the endings of the program.

“The defendants are being presented, since this motion destroys documents with potential relevance to this litigation,” The motion said.

“Although plaintiffs do not know at this moment which records are being destroyed, the destruction of records may severely undermine the agency’s ability to function. For Example, Destruction of Records That Contain Information about IMPOSIBLE— TO RECREATE AND REBUILD AGENCY PROGRESS “If their lawsuit is SUCCESSFUL, READS TO PASSAGE OF THE presentation.

The judge’s request occurred after the agency instructed its staff to destroy classified documents. The destruction of the document was carried out on Tuesday, according to an email by Erica Carr, The agency Interim Executive Secretary. It is not clear how many people received email, which thanked the workers for their “help to clean our classified safes and personnel documents.”

“Rhred so many documents first and reserve burns bags for when the crusher is not available or needs a break,” Carr wrote.

The destroyed documents could be relevant to multiple judicial cases that have been presented against the Trump administration and the agency for the aid on mass dismissal and the sudden relocation of the employees, the rapid dismantling of the agency and a freezing in almost all the money of foreign aid, The New York Times information.

It is not clear if Car or any other official in USAID I obtain permission from the National Archives and Records Administration to destroy the documents. The 1950 Federal Registries Law requires that US government officials request the approval of record administration before destroying documents.

The aid agency uses almost 2,000 career diplomats, known as foreign service officers, and are represented by the union. Diplomats generally destroy a large number of documents only when an embassy or other publication is about to be invaded by a hostile force. Some diplomats who received the email from Mrs. Carr on Monday night called union officials after be anxious On the sudden application, according to the Times.

He Trump administration It has not been shy when taking measures to dismantle the agency, reduce most federal funds and finish 83% of humanitarian and development programs abroad and close the agency headquarters in Washington in Washington DC