Recent claims that the U.S. Agency for International Development ordered staff to shred and burn classified documents have sparked outrage; however, the unraveling of this story reveals that much of it was exaggerated or outright false.
What began as a dramatic headline morphed into a case study of misinformation, with media outlets and social media users amplifying the story before the facts were clear.
The initial wave of reports, including one from the BBC, alleged that USAID employees received urgent orders to destroy classified files, hinting at a cover-up or legal breach.
Articles cited an email from Acting Executive Secretary Erica Carr directing staff to use shredders and burn bags, fueling speculation about transparency.
But a closer look reveals a far less sinister reality. The White House and agency officials clarified key points:
- The directive was a standard cleanup of outdated, redundant files already preserved on classified systems, not a purge of vital records.
- Only about 36 employees, not the entire agency, were involved.
- All staff affected held secret-level security clearances or higher, ensuring proper handling of sensitive materials.
- The effort was tied to an office move, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection set to take over USAID’s building.
- White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly called the coverage “another round of fake news hype,” noting that digital originals remain intact in archives.
The story’s rapid spread highlights a persistent problem in mainstream journalism: publish first, verify later. Politico broke the initial report, and outlets like CBS and the BBC ran with it before the administration could fully respond. The American Foreign Service Association added to the noise by filing a federal court motion over possible legal issues, even though no evidence showed the documents were mishandled or lost.
Ultimately, the USAID shredding uproar proved to be much ado about nothing, but not before it reached millions.