By John Crawley WASHINGTON, March 24 (Reuters) - The new government agency responsible for U.S. transportation security could grow to at least 60,000 people -- almost double the publicly discussed projections -- due partly to more staffing needed for priorities such as checking screened bags for bombs, officials say. Government sources said there were staffing scenarios even higher than 60,000 for the Transportation Security Administration, created after the Sept. 11 attacks, but that the Bush administration was unlikely to present those to Congress -- especially leaders in the House of Representatives who vigorously opposed a security apparatus made up of federal workers. Some key House lawmakers, along with the administration, had favored government oversight of a privately run system to coordinate security at more than 400 airports as well as passenger and freight rail systems and ports. Congress eventually passed legislation with the all-federal formula. Transportation Department officials said last week that staffing projections had not changed from estimates of between 30,000 and 40,000, largely for aviation passenger and baggage screening. Others inside and outside the department with knowledge of security plans said at least 20,000 more people were being considered. The sources told Reuters that some of the additional staffing would likely go for airport baggage and passenger screening, but it was unclear how much of the extra number would include non-aviation positions such as sea cargo screening. In recent weeks, the Transportation Department has concluded that meeting the December deadline to screen all checked baggage through bulky million-dollar stand-alone machines was not guaranteed. Senior planners have shifted focus to other technologies that take up less room in airport terminals but require more manpower. They are also looking at backup baggage-screening systems that also require staffing. CONGRESS PRESSING FOR STAFFING FIGURES Congress has been pressing the administration for firm staffing figures as it works through additional funding requests for this fiscal year and the proposed appropriation for next. The Bush administration has more than $9 billion in funding requests before Congress to pay for security administration staffing and programs such as airport screening, bomb detection, and aircraft security. Last week, the security agency filled key staff jobs to develop maritime and surface programs. The government has promised Congress and the public a world-class passenger and baggage-screening operation. Staffing for that task was lean under the system previously run by airlines, which contracted with third-party security companies. The Transportation Department has hired British-based Pearson Plc (PSON) Congress has required that screeners now employed by private companies that contract with the government be replaced with federal workers by mid-November. Authorities plan to have the first group of federal screeners in place by May. Fifteen big airports, including Denver and Dulles international outside Washington, will be the first to get them. ©2002 Reuters Limited.