TSA chief to defend knives-on-planes rule today at Congressional hearing

Reporter: Steve Strunsky

The head of the Transportation Security Administration is likely to get a mixed reception this afternoon, when he’s scheduled to testify before Congress on his recent decision to allow small knives on commercial airliners.

TSA Administrator John Pistole sparked controversy when he announced two weeks ago that, starting April 25, folding knives with blades up to 2.36 inches long and a half inch wide would be permitted as carry-on items. The narrowing of the TSA’s prohibited items list would also permit passengers to carry on a pool cue, hockey or lacrosse stick, two golf clubs, or a souvenir baseball bat weighing up to a pound and a half.

The hearing in Washington was convened by the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, whose chairman, Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), is a supporter of the rule change. On Monday, Hudson issued a statement saying, "The recent decision to eliminate golf clubs, small knives less than 2.37 inches in length, and ski poles from the prohibited items list is one that I believe balances security with efficiency."

But at least one member of the subcommittee, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), opposes the decision. Swalwell, a former prosecutor, plans to cross-examine Pistole, a former FBI agent, on just whom he consulted prior to taking small knives off the prohibited items list.

"I look forward to asking Administrator Pistole what many Americans are asking, how exactly did TSA come to this decision to allow knives on-board planes?" Swallwell said on Wedesday night. "Since September 12, 2001 there have been zero incidents involving knives and planes. That number can't get better. But it can get worse. Americans deserve answers."

A backlash against the announced change includes opposition from unions representing TSA screeners and air marshals, flight attendants and pilots, who all say they were not consulted on the issue. Opposition also comes from Delta, U.S. Airways and American Airlines, and passengers surveyed informally on the change.

On Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) joined his New Jersey colleague and fellow Democrat, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, in opposing the rule, and a bipartisan bill to block it has been introduced in the House.

Supporters include a TSA chapter of the Federal Managers Association, a trade group made up of government managers and supervisors.

Reflecting a general partisan divide on the issue, the Republican chairman of the full Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), also supports the change, while the committee’s ranking Democrat, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MIss), opposes it. One exception is Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), chairman of the House transportation aviation subcommittee, who is opposed.

In announcing the knives-on-planes policy on March 5, Pistole said it would allow airport screeners to focus on “catastrophic” threats to an entire aircraft, including explosives or detonators.

Box cutters were used by the 9/11 hijackers to seize control of the four airliners that crashed with catastrophic consequences 11 years ago. But Pistole said small knives, like the other newly permitted items, would not be similarly destructive with measures now in place, including and reinforced cockpit doors and federal air marshals posing as passengers.

Boxcutters and other knives with locking or fixed blades will still be prohibited.

Pistole said his decision was also intended to match U.S. regulations with European rules, and to make flying more convenient for passengers.