U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled to block the Biden administration’s federal mask mandate for public transportation that was extended last week.
The extension by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was set to extend to May 3.
A federal judge in Florida has blocked Joe Biden's mask mandate for travel, including a nationwide injunction. pic.twitter.com/S1qGvv8nGz
— MRCTV (@mrctv) April 18, 2022
The decision will reverse the mandate that forced travelers on airplanes and other means of public transportation, such as trains, to wear masks.
No masks on airlines anymore. Freedom.
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 19, 2022
Mizelle based her decision on that “… the mandate was unlawful because it exceeded the statutory authority of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and because its implementation violated administrative law.”
JUST IN: Federal judge strikes down the CDC's mask mandate for travel on planes and other forms of public transportation https://t.co/ae0x2wu9EE
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 18, 2022
Mizelle wrote, “Wearing a mask cleans nothing. At most, it traps virus droplets. But it neither ‘sanitizes’ the person wearing the mask nor ‘sanitizes’ the conveyance.”
The judge who just overturned the mask mandate on airplanes is Kathryn Kimball Mizelle. 35-years-old, former Clarence Thomas clerked, appointed by Trump and confirmed by the Senate right before the lame duck session ended in 2020. pic.twitter.com/lu6ck1FIvT
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 18, 2022
The decision was posted on Twitter.
JUST IN – U.S. federal judge declares CDC's mask mandate for planes and trains unlawful.https://t.co/E6fHnsSHAu pic.twitter.com/gfJP9dEGMY
— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) April 18, 2022
The decision by Mizelle was cheered by many on social media including Republican elected officials.
The extension of the mask mandate was based on a new variant.
Asked if he expects the CDC’s travel mask mandate to be extended again, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha tells @GStephanopoulos that scientists need time to "assess the impact of BA.2 on hospitalizations, deaths." https://t.co/JgLyY3c4nn pic.twitter.com/dkx4BkiNtf
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 18, 2022
The judge was correct and Biden’s team was wrong to extend the mask mandate.
