I just cleared security at IAH's terminal A north checkpoint. Two things that I noticed:

1) Are TSA agents not required to clear security like airline crews? I saw two in-uniform TSA agents, with bags, walk right around the checkpoint into the terminal. They waved to the on-duty agents as they walked past.

2) Something I hadn't seen before: using the explody-wipes on pax' hands before the TDC. There was an agent wiping the hands of pax with those slips and running them through the machine as they waited for the TDC.

She wasn't getting everyone, and she skipped me fortunately. If she'd tried to test my hands I would've told her I have a skin condition and I'm under orders from my doctor not to apply anything to my hands without talking to him first (which is actually true, I do have a skin condition).

Anyone seen that before?

One bit a fun today though: I opted-out and when they picked up my satchel, the agent grabbed it by the bottom. About 30 coins fell out the back pocket onto the floor and he had to pick them all up.

No idea on 1) but if 2) happened to me, I'd refuse and find another checkpoint. You don't consent to (illegal) searches just by entering the airport.

No, they're not required to clear security. It's been discussed here before (but it would be hard to find it via search since all the keywords are really common).

TSA critics have argued that TSA employees should be checked just like passengers every time they enter the checkpoint (to prevent them taking something Bad into the secure area) and every time they leave the checkpoint (to discourage theft).

TSA has defended their policy with various excuses:
- TSA employees are all completely trustworthy and would never ever take anything bad into the secure area. (Pay no attention to those employees caught taking bribes for getting drugs past the checkpoint, or the one who took a gun through for his friend, or the Alvin Crabtree.)
- Who would search the first TSA employees on the first shift in the morning?
- It's too time consuming for the poor TSA employees, who have to go in and out of the secure area all day.
- It would make the lines even longer and you don't want that, do you?
- It sends the wrong impression if they have to search their own people.

Okay, you get the idea. Basically, they can't be bothered and they don't care about the risks.
Yeah, that's been discussed before, too. (See, for example, this thread from 2010: Swabbing hands. Is this new? )The swab before the TDC idea was popular at some airports a few years ago - the idea was that you were waiting anyway so they'd get it out of the way - but hasn't received much comment lately. It appears that airports randomly pull these ideas out every so often to be "unpredictable".

IAH is a joke. I travel out from there on average of twice a week. Everyone should experience it at least once in their life. Especially Term A. They have a small woman who barks and paces with her hands behind her back. The regulars call her "Little Hitler".

If traveling out of Term E, you're best to enter @ Term C, and walk to E. E is famous for retaliation BS.

What would happen if I gave her a Nazi salute right there in the terminal? Arrest maybe?

interfering with the screening process is an "offense"