Blumenthal Statement On Soon-To-Be-Released Government Audit Revealing Navy Became Lax On Security At Navy Yard, Other Naval Facilities To Reduce Costs

(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement in response to a news report on a soon-to-be-released government audit revealing the Navy became lax on security at Navy Yard and other naval facilities to reduce costs. According to the news report, the Department of Defense Inspector General found that the Navy “did not effectively mitigate access-control risks associated with contractor-installation access” to “reduce access-control costs.” The news report comes on the heels of Monday’s mass shooting at Navy Yard in Washington, DC where a Navy contractor allegedly killed 12 people and injured several others.

“If public reports about this audit are accurate, the Navy put the safety of personnel at risk to save dollars and cents. This apparent security lapse – permitting people with criminal records to freely access military bases and facilities – is deeply troubling, and I call on the Department of Defense Inspector General to release the full report as soon as possible.  Lax safety and security measures at our military facilities are inexcusable.”

Blumenthal is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over military facilities.