A federal judge on Monday struck down the rule, imposed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, requiring all travelers must wear masks while on airplanes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation.
U.S. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa, Florida called the mask mandate “unlawful,” saying the CDC overstepped its legal authority when they imposed the mandated in Feb. of 2021.
Mizelle said (in a 59-page ruling), the rule did not following proper rule-making and the only way to make things right, was to vacate the rule in full.
“A limited remedy would be no remedy at all,” the judge said. She also noted that the courts have the authority to make this decision.
“Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate,” she wrote.
The CDC extended the mask mandate multiple times, including a recent extension to May 3.
Debates on public airlines between flight attendants and travelers have gone viral many times, even becoming violent at times.