White House calls federal ruling to toss mask mandate 'a disappointing decision'

  • Jen Psaki
    American political counselor and White Business firm printing secretary

The White Firm said the federal courtroom ruling Mon to void the Biden administration's mask mandate for travelers using public transportation such every bit trains and airplanes was "manifestly a disappointing decision" in low-cal of the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending its order for passengers to wear face coverings be extended.

A federal guess on Monday voided the Biden administration'south transportation mask mandate from the CDC, which applies to people as immature as 2 years old, and had been fix to expire a number of times. The order was recently extended to May 3 before Monday's ruling.

FEDERAL Judge BLOCKS MASK MANDATE FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

"The CDC recommended continuing the order for additional fourth dimension two weeks to be able to assess the latest science in keeping with its responsibility to protect the American people, so, this is obviously a disappointing decision," White House press secretarial assistant Jen Psaki said Monday. "The CDC continues recommending wearing a mask in public transit."

The ruling from U.Southward. District Court Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle came in a instance brought in Florida federal courtroom by Health Liberty Defense Fund, Inc. and frequent air travelers Ana Daza and Sarah Pope against the assistants.

Gauge Mizelle determined that the mandate violated the Administrative Procedure Act by existence outside the scope of the CDC's authority, was "arbitrary" and "capricious" and not going through the required notice and annotate period for federal rulemaking.

CDC EXTENDING TRAVEL MASK MANDATE 15 More than DAYS

Information technology remains to be seen whether the administration will entreatment the decision.

Flim-flam News' Peter Doocy pressed Psaki during the press conference Monday asking, "Why is it that we can sit down here in the White House briefing room with no masks, but people can't sit in an aeroplane cabin with no masks?"

Psaki responded by citing the CDC's green, yellow and red mask guidance to make up one's mind precautions to accept based on specific COVID-19 community levels. She explained that Washington, D.C., is a "green zone," so the CDC is non recommending that masks exist worn.

The White Business firm press secretary also stated that Biden administration is "reviewing the decision," and added that the Justice Department will "make any determinations most litigation."

Psaki added that the assistants had ordered a two-week extension to "look at the data and make recommendations based on the data, on the science, virtually whether [the lodge] should be continued or not."

The CDC last week extended the mandate for an additional 15 days due to a recent increment in cases of COVID-19. The Biden assistants had previously extended the federal mask mandate to Apr 18 in early March.

"CDC continues to monitor the spread of the Omicron variant, especially the BA.two subvariant that now makes upwards more than than 85% of U.S. cases," said CDC spokesperson Kristen Nordlund. "Since early on Apr, there take been increases in the 7-24-hour interval moving average of cases in the U.S. In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on astringent disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and wellness care system chapters, the CDC Order will remain in place at this time. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has decided to extend the security directive and emergency subpoena for 15 days, through May 3, 2022."

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki talks to reporters during the daily news briefing in the Brady Printing Briefing Room at the White House on April 06, 2022 in Washington, DC. Psaki fielded questions about the failure of a COVID-19 funding bill to pass out of the U.Due south. Senate. <span class="copyright">Bit Somodevilla/Getty Images</span>
White Business firm Printing Secretarial assistant Jen Psaki talks to reporters during the daily news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on April 06, 2022 in Washington, DC. Psaki fielded questions nigh the failure of a COVID-19 funding neb to pass out of the U.S. Senate. Scrap Somodevilla/Getty Images

The federal travel mask mandate has remained in identify even every bit all fifty states have appear plans to end mask mandates.

Play tricks News' Ronn Blitzer, Gillian Turner and The Associated Press contributed to this report.