New U.S. security agency could employ 60,000

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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.

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