The Biden Administration at first said that they would not appeal the decision by a federal judge that the mask mandate for certain forms of travel is unconstitutional. Now, however, the executive branch appears to be ready for a reversal. All eyes are on the CDC as the Justice Department now says it will appeal the ruling if the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determines the mandate is needed. Oi vey.
An appeal would have effects beyond just a legal battle. An appeals court could put the mandate back in place until they make their ruling. In the event of a reversal, those companies that have been following the mandate (such as Disney World) would likely reinstate masks on certain forms of transportation. Just as airplanes and airports had required masks, so too have federally-controlled forms of passenger train travel.
#BREAKING: Justice Department to appeal mask ruling if CDC deems mandate necessary for public health https://t.co/O2jUnvlCYB pic.twitter.com/kE0DAYXcDJ
— The Hill (@thehill) April 19, 2022
As CBS News reports, the whole thing is a giant mess at the moment as some state and local governments, as well as a few companies, have moved in to reinstate mask mandates. Normally states act like little countries with variances in their laws but it can be a bit jarring for travelers if they leave from one airport that doesn’t require masks only to arrive in an airport that does. Lost in all of this seems to be empirical studies… instead, a hodgepodge of politics is at play.
“If CDC concludes that a mandatory order remains necessary for the public’s health after that assessment, the Department of Justice will appeal the district court’s decision,” the Justice Department said.
In a statement Tuesday night, the CDC said it “continues to recommend that people wear masks in all indoor public transportation settings.”
“We will continue to assess the need for a mask requirement in those settings, based on several factors, including the U.S. COVID-19 community levels, risk of circulating and novel variants, and trends in cases and disease severity,” the statement added.
However, the response to the ruling has been varied. Some cities, including New York City and Philadelphia, still require masks to be worn in airports and on public transportation, while others, such as Houston and Atlanta, do not. Even airlines now have differing rules for masking, although most now say masks are optional for passengers. Amtrak has also said masks are no longer required on trains or in stations.
— CBS News
We will continue to cover this topic as the need arises. For all the latest on travel and the rules around it, keep checking out That Park Place! If you have thoughts on masking and travel, make sure to let us know in the comments down below.
