Energy IG: Labs need more security

The Energy Department's national laboratories should tighten security over classified projects, including advanced computer research, according to a recent audit report of activities at the Sandia, Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National Laboratories.

The department's inspector general reported that Sandia officials failed to carry out security reviews for six classified projects, and that officials at Los Alamos and Oak Ridge assigned foreign citizens, who were permanent resident aliens, to seven projects involving sensitive technology.

The IG's report called for clarification of security procedures, an action that the department's Counterintelligence Office endorsed.