(Headline USA) The Biden administration plans to extend the federal mask mandate on public transit, including airplanes and airports, for another month.
White House officials reportedly confirmed this week that the Transportation Security Administration will not allow the mandate to expire this month, but will instead drag it out for another 30 days, according to CNN.
Officials said they plan to continue reviewing the policy over the next month.
“During that time, CDC will work with government agencies to help inform a revised policy framework for when, and under what circumstances, masks should be required in the public transportation corridor,” an official said.
“This revised framework will be based on the Covid-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. We will communicate any updates publicly if and/or when they change.”
Democrats have been reluctantly dropping COVID-19 restrictions over the past month in preparation for the November midterm elections. However, the Biden administration still seems bent on keeping certain rules in place, such as its negative COVID-19 test requirement for all persons entering the country and its travel mask mandate.
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said last month that he will force a vote in the Senate to repeal these mandates when lawmakers return to session. He slammed the travel mask mandate as “anti-science” and said he is “tired” of being “treated like crap.”
“It’s a joke, it’s theater, and there’s no reason to be wearing them on the planes,” Paul said. “I want them to bring me at least a glass of water and peanuts, and I don’t want somebody jammering at me to put my mask on in between peanuts.”
Rand Paul wants legislation to force airlines to end mask mandates because he is “tired of paying the airlines to be treated like crap .. I want them to bring me a glass of water and peanuts and I don’t want somebody jammering at me to put a mask on.” pic.twitter.com/yEGWF5ouYa
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) February 16, 2022
