UPDATE: okay here’s a little more detail on this, it doesn’t sound like such a dumb idea as described here.

Like I frequently say, government solutions often end up creating problems bigger than the ones they are trying to solve… this is just such an example. What exactly is the point of this exercise?

The TSA is working with bag makers like Targus and others to detail the specs of allowable bags. The new bags will have to be made of materials transparent to X-rays and — importantly — either provide no room for or separate adaptors, cables, straps and other stuff that obsures the view of X-ray readers. In other words, the cases will have to allow X-ray readers to see the laptop as clearly as if it weren’t in any case at all.

[From New TSA laptop bag policy won't improve anything | Computerworld Blogs]