A member of the military stands guard at the scene of the shooting.
A member of the military stands guard at the scene of the shooting.
SHAWN THEW/EPA/LANDOV
A police officer runs near the scene of the shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, September 16, 2013. Authorities said at least 12 people -- and the suspect -- were killed in the shooting.
A police officer runs near the scene of the shooting rampage at the Washington Navy Yard on Monday, September 16, 2013. Authorities said at least 12 people -- and the suspect -- were killed in the shooting.
Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post via Getty Images
A U.S. Park Police officer stands guard near the scene of the shooting.
A U.S. Park Police officer stands guard near the scene of the shooting.
SHAWN THEW/EPA/LANDOV
Military security observes the scene from a nearby rooftop.
Military security observes the scene from a nearby rooftop.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
The White House flies the U.S. flag at half-staff following the shooting.
The White House flies the U.S. flag at half-staff following the shooting.
Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images
A police boat patrols the waters at the Washington Navy Yard.
A police boat patrols the waters at the Washington Navy Yard.
Evan Vucci/AP
Late Monday afternoon the FBI identified Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old military contractor from Texas, as the dead suspect involved in the shooting.
Late Monday afternoon the FBI identified Aaron Alexis, a 34-year-old military contractor from Texas, as the dead suspect involved in the shooting.
FBI via Getty Images
Workers who had been sheltered during a lockdown exit the Navy Yard.
Workers who had been sheltered during a lockdown exit the Navy Yard.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
People step off buses at Parking Lot B of Nationals Park, which was set up as a gathering point for family members of Navy Yard employees in the wake of the shooting.
People step off buses at Parking Lot B of Nationals Park, which was set up as a gathering point for family members of Navy Yard employees in the wake of the shooting.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
A man and woman embrace at the gathering point inside Nationals Park.
A man and woman embrace at the gathering point inside Nationals Park.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
A man walks with a woman after they were reunited at Nationals Park.
A man walks with a woman after they were reunited at Nationals Park.
MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images
A woman reunites with her child inside Nationals Park.
A woman reunites with her child inside Nationals Park.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Washington Mayor Vincent Gray and Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier speak to the media near the Washington Navy Yard.
Washington Mayor Vincent Gray and Washington Police Chief Cathy Lanier speak to the media near the Washington Navy Yard.
Andre Chung/MCT/getty images
Police officers walk on a rooftop at the Washington Navy Yard.
Police officers walk on a rooftop at the Washington Navy Yard.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
A woman watches from an office building as police respond to the shooting.
A woman watches from an office building as police respond to the shooting.
Kevin Dietsh/upi/LANDOV
Police officers leave the scene after responding to the shooting.
Police officers leave the scene after responding to the shooting.
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
A police officer and police canine inspect vehicles in a parking lot outside the Washington Navy Yard.
A police officer and police canine inspect vehicles in a parking lot outside the Washington Navy Yard.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
A Homeland Security officer tells a woman where to park and wait for her husband, who works in the Washington Navy Yard.
A Homeland Security officer tells a woman where to park and wait for her husband, who works in the Washington Navy Yard.
Andre Chung/MCT/Landov
A police helicopter hovers above snipers on the roof of a building at the Washington Navy Yard.
A police helicopter hovers above snipers on the roof of a building at the Washington Navy Yard.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Police stand guard on M Street in Washington.
Police stand guard on M Street in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Police boats patrol the Anacostia River off the Washington Navy Yard complex.
Police boats patrol the Anacostia River off the Washington Navy Yard complex.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
A U.S. Capitol Police officer keeps watch on the East Plaza of the Capitol in Washington.
A U.S. Capitol Police officer keeps watch on the East Plaza of the Capitol in Washington.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
Troops stand guard in front of a parking garage near the Washington Navy Yard.
Troops stand guard in front of a parking garage near the Washington Navy Yard.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Police vehicles move toward the Navy Yard.
Police vehicles move toward the Navy Yard.
SAUL LOE/AFP/Getty Images
Armed agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives work on the 11th Street Bridge adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard.
Armed agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives work on the 11th Street Bridge adjacent to the Washington Navy Yard.
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Emergency vehicles fill the streets around the Washington Navy Yard.
Emergency vehicles fill the streets around the Washington Navy Yard.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
A helicopter lifts a person off a roof at the Navy Yard.
A helicopter lifts a person off a roof at the Navy Yard.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
A police officer carries an automatic rifle at the Washington Navy Yard.
A police officer carries an automatic rifle at the Washington Navy Yard.
SAUL LOE/AFP/Getty Images
Police officers adjust their gear.
Police officers adjust their gear.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Police block off a road leading to the Washington Navy Yard.
Police block off a road leading to the Washington Navy Yard.
SAUL LOE/AFP/Getty Images
2013: Mass shooting at D.C. Navy Yard

Story highlights

Audit to be released on security at Navy Yard, other installations

Problems uncovered include felons gaining access to installations, source says

Monday's shootings prompt congressman to ask about the audit

CNN  — 

A government audit on Navy security found that the Navy Yard and other installations may have increased security risks in an effort to reduce costs, a federal source told CNN.

“Navy installations command attempted to reduce access control costs,” according to a soon-to-be-released report from the Department of Defense Inspector General. The source read CNN portions of the report. “As a result, at least 52 convicted felons received routine unauthorized installation access, placing military personnel at increased security risk.”

The audit covered “a variety” of military installations, of which Navy Yard was one, according to the federal source with access to the report. The source shared the information on the condition of anonymity because the report has not yet been officially released.

In the wake of the shooting on Monday, Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, a member of the Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to the Pentagon inspector general demanding he brief members of Congress on the Navy security audit.

What is security like at the Navy Yard?

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“It is my understanding that the IG report indicates the Navy may have implemented an unproven system in order to cut costs,” read the letter, first obtained by CNN. “I also learned that potentially numerous felons may have been able to gain restricted access to several military installations across the country due to insufficient background checks, increasing the risk to our military personnel and civilian employees.”

According to a memo announcing the launch of the audit posted on the Department of Defense Inspector General website, the investigation began in September 2012.

“Our objective is to determine whether the Navy Commercial Access Control System (NCACS) is mitigating access control risks to Navy installations. We will consider suggestions from management on additional or revised objectives,” the memo said.

In August 2013, the inspector general posted an update saying the report would be published “within the next 30 days.”