In January 2021, one of President Biden’s first big moves in office was to sign an executive order mandating masks in airports and on planes and other forms of public transit.But an unexpected ruling from a judge in Florida has abruptly and unexpectedly overturned that mandate — and the implications of the decision could tie the government’s hands when it comes to future health emergencies.Guest: Sheryl Gay Stolberg, a Washington correspondent covering health policy for The New York Times; and Heather Murphy, a reporter covering travel for The Times.Want more from The Daily? For one big idea on the news each week from our team, subscribe to our newsletter. Background reading: In the end, the mask mandate was brought down by a little-known nonprofit, a conservative judge, and chance.While the C.D.C. wants to keep the mandate intact, appealing the ruling is risky: If the Florida decision is upheld, it could permanently weaken the agency’s authority.For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
A federal judge in Florida has struck down the CDC's nationwide travel mask mandate for airplanes and other forms of transportation, which the Biden Administration says is not in effect. The airline and travel industry had lobbied for the rule to be lifted, but the mandate has been eliminated due to an obscure lawsuit in Florida and a newly appointed judge.
Some individuals argue that the federal government has overreached its authority and President Biden lacked the power to issue mask mandates, while others contend that the CDC has the flexibility to introduce new measures not explicitly covered in existing laws.
A ruling by a federal judge overturning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) authority to impose a national eviction moratorium could have implications for the CDC's authority to mandate mask wearing in certain situations in the future. If the ruling is upheld on appeal and by the Supreme Court, it would curtail the CDC's authority in the future.
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