Audit critical of US Navy security review system, but that process not used for gunman

WASHINGTON – U.S. officials say a draft Defence Department audit criticizes one of the Navy’s security review programs for lower-level contractors. But that process was not the one used to evaluate the man who shot dead 12 people Monday at a military complex in Washington.

Aaron Alexis, the 34-year-old information technology contractor involved in the shooting, had a secret security clearance for his job, obtained in 2008. He went through a different, more extensive review.

The Defence Department Inspector General found that a separate system used to review some contractors did not properly check the workers. That program is generally for contractors who don’t have security clearances.

Officials described the audit on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss a draft report.