US government websites are being told to take off-line information about weapons of mass destruction.

The White House has placed new controls on government information on nuclear, biological, radiological and chemical weapons.

Advocates for government openness say the new guidelines could be used to withhold an array of other material as well.

Steven Aftergood, who directs the Federation of American Scientists' government secrecy project, agrees that cookbook-type material about weapons of mass destruction should be classified, even reclassified if it's been released before.

But he says information about weapons of mass destruction also can be used to advance medical treatment, develop vaccines, facilitate cleanup and aid other emergency preparedness. "It's important to distinguish carefully," he said.

In a memo, White House chief of staff Andrew Card ordered federal agencies and departments to take a look at their record management procedures and public documents and report back within 90 days to the Office of Homeland Security.

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