Federal judge tosses CDC's public transport mask mandate, rules agency overstepped

A federal judge in Florida struck down the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's national mask mandate for planes and public transportation on Monday, claiming the rule exceeds the authority of health officials, The Associated Press reports.
U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle's ruling also said the CDC failed to properly justify its decision and did not follow proper rulemaking, AP writes.
"The court concludes that the mask mandate exceeds the CDC's statutory authority and violates the procedures required for agency rulemaking under the APA," the ruling reads. "Accordingly, the court vacates the mandate and remands it to the CDC."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The CDC recently extended the mask mandate for public transport until May 3 to allow more time to investigate the Omicron subvariant known as BA.2. The rule was previously set to expire on April 18.
According to Grid News' Chris Geidner, Mizelle was the youngest federal judge appointed by former President Donald Trump, and a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. While a judicial nominee, Mizelle was also apparently rated "not qualified" by the American Bar Association.
The judge's decision, per legal analyst Joyce White Vance, will have a "nationwide effect" — at least until it is potentially reversed. Notably, an appeal is likely, per Buzzfeed News.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Trump uses tariffs to upend Brazil's domestic politics
IN THE SPOTLIGHT By slapping a 50% tariff on Brazil for its criminal investigation into Bolsonaro, the Trump administration is brazenly putting its fingers on the scales of a key foreign election
-
3 questions to ask when deciding whether to repair or replace your broken appliance
the explainer There may be merit to fixing what you already have, but sometimes buying new is even more cost-effective
-
'Trump's authoritarian manipulation of language'
Instant Opinion Vienna has become a 'convenient target for populists' | Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Measles cases surge to 33-year high
Speed Read The infection was declared eliminated from the US in 2000 but has seen a resurgence amid vaccine hesitancy
-
Kennedy's vaccine panel signals skepticism, change
Speed Read RFK Jr.'s new vaccine advisory board intends to make changes to the decades-old US immunization system
-
Kennedy ousts entire CDC vaccine advisory panel
speed read Health Secretary RFK Jr. is a longtime anti-vaccine activist who has criticized the panel of experts
-
RFK Jr. scraps Covid shots for pregnant women, kids
Speed Read The Health Secretary announced a policy change without informing CDC officials
-
New FDA chiefs limit Covid-19 shots to elderly, sick
speed read The FDA set stricter approval standards for booster shots
-
US overdose deaths plunged 27% last year
speed read Drug overdose still 'remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44,' said the CDC
-
Trump seeks to cut drug prices via executive order
speed read The president's order tells pharmaceutical companies to lower prescription drug prices, but it will likely be thrown out by the courts
-
RFK Jr.: A new plan for sabotaging vaccines
Feature The Health Secretary announced changes to vaccine testing and asks Americans to 'do your own research'