Under Fire, TSA to Keep New Knife Policy

The TSA has gotten a lot of flak for deciding to allow small knives back on planes—but not enough to change its mind. "I could have done a better job of bringing (the policy) in earlier," TSA boss John Pistole testified before a Homeland Security subcommittee. Lawmakers emphasized their problems about the new TSA rules by bringing props, including a golf club, to the meeting, Politico reports. (Up to two clubs are now allowed under the relaxed rules.)

TSA personnel daily take between 2,000 and 3,000 small knives from baggage, at a time cost of two or three minutes per item, Pistole said. Yet "we’re unaware of a single incident involving these knives," he said, adding that the International Civil Aviation Organization—which oversees flights for some 5 billion people—allows the knives. But several members of Congress said they had plans to introduce legislation to re-ban the knives. That's the only way a ban would be reinstated, Pistole said. (More TSA stories.)