Union representatives demanded that the aid agency comply with the law, outlined in the Federal Records Act. Defense attorneys argued that officials had not destroyed personnel records and would not destroy any more documents without notice.
A senior official at a major U.S. aid agency being dismantled by the Trump administration ordered staff to empty safes containing classified documents and personnel files by shredding the papers or putting them in burn bags, according to an email sent to employees.
An email sent by Erica Y. Carr, the acting executive secretary, told U.S. Agency for International Development staff to empty secret safes and personnel files on Tuesday. “Shred as many documents as possible first and leave trash bags in case the shredder becomes unavailable or needs a break,” Ms. Carr wrote, according to a copy of the email obtained by The New York Times.
The agency has laid off thousands of employees, put some on paid leave and asked several to work from home, leaving its headquarters empty for weeks.
It is unclear whether Ms. Carr or any other USAID official received permission from the National Archives and Records Administration to destroy the records. The Federal Records Act of 1950 requires U.S. government officials to seek approval from the Records Administration before destroying records.
The documents being destroyed may be related to multiple lawsuits that have been filed against the Trump administration and the aid agency over the massive layoffs and sudden relocation of employees, the rapid dissolution of the agency and the freezing of nearly all foreign aid funds.
The State Department and a USAID spokesman did not respond to requests for comment.
By Tuesday evening, at least two groups had filed lawsuits to try to force judges to prevent the destruction of more documents at USAID. They said the agency had failed to comply with records-retention requirements. Defense attorneys argued in the lawsuit that officials had not destroyed any personnel records and that they would not destroy any more documents at the Ronald Reagan Building, where the agency is headquartered, without first notifying the plaintiff and the court.
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