Letter to Homeland Security Chair Tom Carper and Ranking Member Tom Coburn - Federal Contractor Hiring Practices

Letter

In the wake of Monday's tragedy at the Washington Navy Yard, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) is calling for a hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to examine federal contractor hiring practices at military installations. With media reports indicating that alleged gunman Aaron Alexis had a troubled past - including several incidents that came to the attention of law enforcement - Ayotte said senators need to fully understand contracting hiring practices at military installations to ensure that federal contractors are qualified, fit to serve, and don't pose a danger to the workforce, or our national security.

"In the wake of this tragedy, we must thoroughly review and fix deficiencies within existing federal contracting hiring practices that the alleged Washington Navy Yard gunman exposed and exploited to ensure the safety of the rest of our service family-servicemembers, civilian workers, and contractors, alike," said Senator Ayotte. "It is with this in mind that I request a committee hearing as soon as possible to examine these important issues."

Senator Ayotte is a member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Coburn:

Like all Americans, I was deeply saddened by the tragic events at Washington Navy Yard on Monday. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the victims of these horrific crimes. In light of this tragedy, I write to request that the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hold a hearing to address contracting hiring practices and security procedures at our nation's military installations.

Media reports indicate that the alleged gunman at Washington Navy Yard, Aaron Alexis, was a former Navy Reservist and current contractor with a troubled past, including several incidents which reportedly came to the attention of law enforcement.

While any instance of lawbreaking by a servicemember or government contractor with a security clearance warrants scrutiny, this case is particularly disturbing given Alexis's pattern of troubling behavior. In addition to multiple incidents with both civilian law enforcement and his military superiors, reports indicate that Alexis sought mental health assistance from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

While we have yet to paint a full picture of Alexis's past or the sequence of events leading up to and on the morning of September 16, 2013, we must move quickly to fully understand contracting hiring practices at military installations to ensure that federal contractors are qualified, fit to serve, and don't pose a danger to the workforce, or our national security.

In the wake of this tragedy, we must thoroughly review and fix deficiencies within existing federal contracting hiring practices that the alleged Washington Navy Yard gunman exposed and exploited to ensure the safety of all servicemembers, civilian workers, and contractors.

It is with this in mind that I request a committee hearing as soon as possible to examine these important issues. Thank you for your consideration.

Source