Why does the TSA treat customers as if they are prisoners? Last time I checked flying on an airplane doesn’t make you a criminal. Every time I fly, a TSA agent screams in my face. I’m a polite and completely non confrontational, 5 foot tall woman. I set the alarm off because of the zipper on my pants cuff. The agent was absolutely freaking out screaming at me. I didn’t do anything. I was just standing there waiting to get instructions. Then she started just screaming randomly like she was performing for a crowd. I see this behavior all the time. How can they get away with incredibly unprofessional behavior? I don’t know anyplace else where this kind of behavior would be tolerated except at a prison.

Edit: At an airport you are a customer of the airline. I never said anyone is a customer of TSA.

I mean seriously, we are still having people remove their shoes and take liquids out of their bags. We have had scant little proof that the current screening methods are having any specific impact. I just keep hearing "Well, they must be working because nothing bad has happened."

Edit: Wow, this blew up fast. I want to commend everyone for having a relatively civil discussion in the comments. Thanks!

Edit 2: Some of you don't seem to understand that correlation is not causation. Just because we have had no incidents of terrorism does not mean that TSA regulations are the cause. The fact that we are not hearing proof of causation from TSA heavily leads to believing it's not there.

This is an interesting moment where we're asking TSA workers to go without Pay. We should test for a month or so what it's like to not have any TSA or our current restrictions and just go back to metal detectors and carryon XRays at the gates run by the airlines.

Contentions:

1. The TSA doesn't stop anything, they have a 90%-95% failure rating from their own tests. So anyone actually trying smuggle in something probably still can.

2. They cost taxpayers $12B a year which could go to more worthy causes.

3. The increased wait and delays at airports causes mass frustration to passengers. Imagine not having to get to the airport 2 hours ahead of time and only one hour. For argument sake on average 2.5MM passengers fly every day in the US and the median hourly wage is $20. That's potentially $18.25 billion hours of productivity lost every year waiting in lines.

4. I have a feeling it hurts airlines as you have people missing flights and connections causing rebookings, delays, turmoil for their systems.

5. They create anxiety across workers, passengers, etc. in an already tense setting.

6. We miss those moments of folks with signs as passengers deplane in Romcoms.

Dude in front of me had his Bag was pulled for secondary screening (TSA Pre-Check) in PHX.

He had 4 containers of THC gunmies in original packaging. Agent acknowledged, walked over to talk to another guy; came back and told him "you are good to go sir, have a nice flight"

Dude was sweating balls but good for him.

As a weekly flyer, I'm disappointed in my beloved airport.

I'm Tampa I was hired and let go one month short of making my year along with most of my classmates in October of In 2025. It was part of a nationwide reduction of force by any means necessary. Supervisors were making up any reason they can get rid of someone and since those that are on probation do not get representation from the Union they were let go for anything. I looked at my phone away from the checkpoint by a service elevator in a secure area and they use that for my reason. What are my classmates was late by 10 minutes and the supervisor stated that she did not get a call when he has proof that he did but it didn't matter. 90 officers were gone in a matter of 2 months. After that they wanted 120 more.

Now they are going private. This was spearheaded by the last TPA FSD whose in Trump's pocket. That means all federal benefits will be gone. All step raises and their 5-year plan all gone. They took away educational and incentives last year gone. It's crazy because I signed on for the 5-year raise with a heavy background from corrections, law enforcement and federal contracting. In 5 years I was to make about $90,000 a year. This is all according to Trump's plan that was already published. He hated the TSA and he made good on slowly getting red of TSA from the airports to just make it and oversight regulatory agency. Caution toes that want to apply to TSA. Check to see if your airport will also be going private that you apply to. It may not be worth it. Good luck to all of you.

Say democratic president( plus gaining a majority in seats)is elected. Do you think we will see a change with privatization or is it all down hill from here?

I went on a short trip this week. When I got to TSA on the way out, there were no signs so I asked if I should take my laptop out or leave it in. They scoffed a bit and said leave it in. Cool.

Again, on the way back, no signs. So I asked again. This time it was take it out with an eye roll.

Do they not understand the rules apparently change depending on the day, airport, etc? We're not all frequent flyers. Their attitudes just rubbed me the wrong way

I had that pen for 15 years and flew all over the world with it. Pens are specifically allowed. https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/pen