Groups representing federal air marshals and flight attendants are fuming over the Transportation Security Administration's decision to allow small knives back on airplanes and are asking the TSA to reconsider.
Both groups say the TSA is forgetting about the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2011, that led to the formation of the agency, reports CNN.
"It's as if we didn't learn anything from 9/11," said George Randall Taylor, head of the air marshal unit of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA). "Flight attendants are going to be sitting ducks."
TSA head John Pistole said the changes, which take effect April 25, will bring the United States in line with international rules.
Pistole said relaxing the rules on knives and so other items permit airport screeners to focus on looking for bomb components, which present a greater threat to aircraft, instead of lesser threats, CNN reports.
The TSA said Tuesday that knives and several other items that had been banned since Sept. 11, 2001, would be again be allowed.
Items allowed again are: knives with blades 2.36 inches (6 centimeters) or shorter and less than a 1/2 inch wide, two golf clubs, toy bats, ski poles, pool cues and hockey and lacrosse sticks.