(Tony Sifert, Headline USA) A Trump-appointed federal judge in Florida has struck down the Biden administration’s mask mandate for travelers, according to CNN.
In a ruling issued Monday, Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle of the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, vacated the mandate and held that the rule requiring masks on public transportation exceeded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s authority.
“The mandate exceeded the CDC statutory authority,” Mizelle wrote. “Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in the pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate.”
A Biden administration official told reporters that as of Monday, the masking order is “not in effect” and that the CDC and the Transportation Security Administration will no longer enforce it.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki attacked the decision during a press briefing and said the Department of Homeland Security, the CDC, and the Department of Justice were all reviewing the ruling.
“This is obviously a disappointing decision,” Psaki said. “The CDC continues recommending a mask in public transit.”
Several airlines have already announced that they would no longer require masks on domestic flights.
“In accordance with the Transportation Security Administration no longer enforcing the federal face mask mandate, face masks will no longer be required for our customers and team members at U.S. airports and on domestic flights,” American Airlines wrote in a statement.
Alaska, Delta, Southwest, and United airlines have all done the same.
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis tweeted his support of the decision.
“Great to see a federal judge in Florida follow the law and reject the Biden transportation mask mandate,” DeSantis wrote. “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
As ever when its ability to tyrannize the populace is challenged, the Left has responded by attacking Judge Mizelle and highlighting the fact that she clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
