WASHINGTON – Senators want to crack down on federal security clearances because of the Navy Yard shooting in which 13 died on Sept. 16.
Thirty-four-year-old defense contractor Aaron Alexis, who had previously been involved in a series of violent outbursts, opened fire after gaining access to a Navy Yard building with a proper security badge. Twelve people were killed before Alexis was gunned down by police.
On Thursday, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee focused on the issue of security clearances in light of this tragedy. Of particular interest were Seattle Police Department records showing that Alexis had shot at an automobile’s tires. Those doing his security check did not seek these records.
“As we have learned more about Aaron Alexis, a number of my colleagues and I have been asking each other why such a troubled, unstable individual possessed a security clearance from the U.S. government,” said Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del. chairman of the homeland security panel.
Aside from the hearing, four senators introduced legislation Wednesday to require more frequent background checks of government employees and contractors awarded security clearance.
“Many national security experts have long argued that the security clearance process is antiquated and in need of modernization,” Carper said. “Given recent events, I think we have to ask whether the system is fundamentally flawed.”
At the Capitol Hill hearing, senators from both parties agreed that the system was significantly flawed.
“This is an issue of us failing to do our job in terms of security issues,” Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla. said. “Our process is obviously broken.”
Sen. John Tester, D-Mont., echoed Coburn, saying “There are real life consequences for failures in our government.”
While testifying before the committee, Brenda Farrell, of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, noted serious failings that the watchdog group found while reviewing the Defense Department’s security programs.
In 2008, the GAO found that an estimated 87 percent of 3,500 investigative reports assessing workers’ eligibility for clearance were short on some required documentation, such as a verification of all employment information.
Additionally, 12 percent of the 3,500 reports did not require an interview with the prospective employee.
Clearance checks are currently conducted every five years for Top Secret clearances and every 10years for Secret clearances.
It wasn’t until 2011 that the GAO dropped the Defense Department from its “high-risk” list,, having had it there since 2005 because of the lengthy time the Pentagon was taking to process clearance checks. The GAO regularly tracks agencies at risk for waste, fraud and mismanagement.
In terms of legislative action, the senators’ bill would require the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to increase audits of security clearances.
The current time between checks of the clearances leaves the government vulnerable to security risks, according to Brian Prioletti, assistant director of the special security directorate.
Much more needs to be done, according to Elaine Kaplan, acting director of the Office of Personnel Management.
“In particular, we recognize that evolution of the security clearance process must include the ability to obtain and easily share relevant information on a more frequent or real-time basis,” Kaplan said.
Coburn went a step further, saying the number of individuals given security clearance needed to be restricted and reviewed with greater scrutiny. He also addressed the issue of over-classification of information, which often leads to growing numbers of individuals going through the security clearance process.
A process must be in place to ensure that timely reevaluations take place, Joseph Jordan, of the Office of Management and Budget, told the committee.
