The TSA agents don’t need to be anywhere or wear anything to do their jobs. The TSA is a public works jobs program disguised in a way that no one in Congress can argue against because it’s in the name of fighting the “enemy” nothing more.
I don't mind a public works program, but it'd be nice if we got something useful out of it, rather than just annoyance and maybe reduced demand for air travel because of said annoyance.