- TSA agents are a hot topic as scores quit and call out sick during the partial government shutdown.
- Agents undergo up to six months of rigorous training to ensure they can spot prohibited items.
- Take Business Insider's quiz and see if you know what you can — and can't — bring on the plane.
Do you have what it takes to be a TSA agent?
Transportation security officers don't only screen passengers and luggage, but also ask travelers security questions and look out for suspicious activity.
From the X-ray machine to pat-downs, it takes substantial training to ensure agents can spot prohibited items. Becoming a TSA agent takes four to six months.
And sometimes, what's prohibited might not be as obvious as you think. While there are definite no-nos — like weapons — other banned items are a little more unexpected.
With that in mind, Business Insider created a quiz on passengers bringing items through airport security and take into the cabin with them.
Try it below to see if you know what's allowed and what's not in your carry-on:
TSA issues persist
Staffing shortages are causing enormous lines at airport security checkpoints right now and putting severe pressure on TSA workers.
Large numbers have been calling out since the partial government shutdown began on February 14, which stopped TSA staff from being paid. More than 400 have quit entirely.
The Department of Homeland Security says this leaves "critical gaps in staffing."
"TSA simply cannot afford to lose its screening workforce as it takes four to six months to train new recruits."
During the shutdown, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been deployed to 14 US airports.
That's drawn criticism from many in the aviation industry, including flight attendants' unions, which accused politicians of using workers as "pawns in this dangerous game" in a Sunday statement.
On Tuesday, the Association of Flight Attendants created an online reporting form for its members to flag incidents, like ICE agents "doing work they are not trained to do, such as screening passengers and baggage."
