@Bill,

I thought this was strictly the domain of Customs and Border Patrol? I certainly don't think I'd feel comfortable providing information about the cash value amount, my name, my address, or any other personally identifying information to a TSA screener. You never know who is fishing for information for "other than honorable" reasons. I think it would be reasonable for a thief to assume that someone carrying something expensive through a checkpoint might also have other expensive things at home... so providing this information could turn one into a possible target.

Hopefully TSA is no longer doing this, and has instructed all screeners to stop doing it - period.