On Monday, a federal judge blocked the Biden administration’s mask mandate for traveling on airplanes and other public transport.
The CDC extended the mask mandate until May 3 when it was set to expire on April 18. The CDC stated the reasoning as wanting more time to study the BA.2 Omicron subvariant.
Governor Ron DeSantis, America’s Governor, filed a federal lawsuit against the mandates for public transportation in late March referring to the forced masking as “Covid theater”.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said the CDC failed to adequately explain its decision to impose the mandate or follow proper rulemaking procedures. This resulted in the Biden administration suspending its enforcement of the mask mandate for airports, planes and other forms of travel.
From Fox News:
Mizelle examined the section of the Public Health Services Act of 1944 that was the basis for the mandate. That law allows the CDC “to make and enforce such regulations” deemed “necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases from foreign countries into the States[.]” To achieve this, the law says that CDC can utilize “inspection, fumigation disinfection sanitation, pest extermination, destruction of animals or articles found to be so infect or contaminated as to be sources of dangerous infection to human beings, and other measures[.]” The administration, the judge noted, has claimed that the mask mandate falls under “sanitation.”
The judge noted that one could view “sanitation” as being an active measure to clean or as a preventative measure to keep something from getting dirty or infected, but through an examination of the statutory language, she determined it was the former.
“The agencies are reviewing the decision and assessing potential next steps. In the meantime, today’s court decision means CDC’s public transportation masking order is not in effect at this time,” an administration official said.
“Therefore, TSA will not enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs at this time. CDC recommends that people continue to wear masks in indoor public transportation settings.”
United Airlines, Delta, Alaska, American and Southwest immediately dropped all mask requirements shortly after the ruling.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki, in a press conference Monday, said the administration is reviewing the court’s ruling, and the Justice Department will determine whether it will appeal. The Justice Department declined to comment when asked by CNBC.
Q Two subject areas. First, a federal judge in Florida says the CDC exceeded its authority with the mask mandate in airports. What’s the White House position?
MS. PSAKI: The CDC recommended continuing the order for additional time — two weeks — to be able to assess the latest science in keeping with its responsibility to protect the American people.
So, this is obviously a disappointing decision. The CDC continues recommending wearing a mask in public transit. As you know, this just came out this afternoon. So, right now, the Department of Homeland Security, who would be implementing, and the CDC are reviewing the decision. And, of course, the Department of Justice would make any determinations about litigation.
Of course, the elite who haven’t been wearing their masks are disappointed that the peasants are forced to wear theirs anymore.
Now that masks are no longer mandated on planes, will you travel more? And leave it to Florida to save America once again.
