I travel with small scissors in my carry-on all the time. Except for this year, annually over 100K miles domestic USA. Blades less than 4-inches pivot to tip is the TSA rule (3.5 is what I carry, just to be sure don't run into any stretchy rulers). Only once has any TSA agent even pulled them out to look at them.

TSA rules would also seem to cover small pliers: Tools 7 inches or shorter (measured from end to end when assembled) are allowed in carry-on baggage.