Although I'll admit that for this purpose it might have been better to use that term rather than that which I use in my standard TSA blog text, I find "Transportation Security Officer" to be a propaganda term. I think the title, along with the blue uniform and badge that TSA's airport bag checkers wear are intended to convey an air of authority that doesn't actually exist. When the position was filled by private businesses, they were airport security guards. That DHS is involved doesn't make them "officers".