Originally Posted by
bankops
Yes, they can confiscate items not on their list but they need to be security threats.
1) The TSA isn't authorized to "confiscate" anything. They do, however, appear to have a really broad definition of "voluntary surrender" that a large percentage of rational people would classify as "confiscation" or "theft."
2) The problem is that the individual clerk is authorized to call anything they like a "security threat." Got a cupcake? The TSA clerk might just claim their low blood sugar makes that cupcake a "security threat" because they might faint while gazing upon its deliciousness.