A federal judge in Florida on Monday declared that the Biden administration’s Covid-19 mask mandate for public transportation is unlawful, invalidating a regulation that required travelers in the U.S. to wear masks on airplanes, trains, taxis, buses and other forms of public transit, Jacob Gershman at The Wall Street Journal reported.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa said the mandate exceeded the authority granted to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under federal public health law.
As reported by Jacob Gershman at The Wall Street Journal:
Judge Mizelle, a President Donald Trump appointee, said Congress had never clearly given the CDC the power to issue population-wide preventative public-health measures like the mask mandate.
Because the CDC acted beyond its authority, “the court must hold unlawful and set aside the mask mandate as an agency action that is not in accordance with law,” Judge Mizelle wrote in a 59-page opinion.
The judge’s ruling came days after the Biden administration extended the transportation mask mandate through May 3 after it was set to expire Monday.
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
Fox News’ Bill Hemmer reports:
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
Meanwhile, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis commented on Monday’s ruling, writing on Twitter, “Great to see a federal judge in Florida follow the law and reject the Biden transportation mask mandate. Both airline employees and passengers deserve to have this misery end.”
Great to see a federal judge in Florida follow the law and reject the Biden transportation mask mandate. Both airline employees and passengers deserve to have this misery end.
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 18, 2022
Tim Swain, a GOP candidate for South Carolina House of Representatives, posted a picture of Judge Kathrny Kimball Mizelle:
Does “Justice Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of the United States Supreme Court”have a nice ring to it? After all, she did clerk for Justice Clarence Thomas. Seems like a great replacement to me!
— Tim Swain (@SwainForSenate) April 18, 2022
Jenna Ellis, a former attorney and counsel to 45th President Trump, tweeted:
BREAKING: A federal judge in Florida has vacated the CDC’s mask mandate in airports and public transportation, holding the CDC overstepped its authority.
— Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) April 18, 2022
Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) thanked Judge Mizelle and expressed, “LET FREEDOM REIGN!”
Thank you Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of Florida for ENDING the mask mandates on planes and trains!
LET FREEDOM REIGN!
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) April 18, 2022
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