TSA Extends Mask Mandate; Rand Paul Vows to Force Vote to End It

The TSA on Thursday announced another extension of its mask mandate for public transportation and inside transportation hubs.

A TSA official said it would leave the mask mandate in place until at least April 18th, citing the CDC’s recommendation.

Why isn't the TSA following the science? https://t.co/7itsf3IKKa

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) March 11, 2022

FOX News reported:

“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. 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,” said the official.

The extension comes after a group of 92 Republicans sent a letter to TSA Administrator David Pekoske on Wednesday, demanding the agency end its mandate by its previous deadline of March 18, which TSA announced in August 2021.

“Given strong declines in COVID-19 cases and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) latest guidance eliminating indoor mask requirements for much of the population, we believe TSA’s mask mandate should be allowed to expire later this month,” Republican Reps. Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania and Doug LaMalfa of California wrote in their letter.

Although most states have ended their mask mandates, the Biden administration wants to continue COVID theater and enforce mask policies for airplanes and trains.

Senator Rand Paul stated that “government doesn’t want to relinquish its power,” and pledged to end the ‘unscientific’ move.

Apparently government doesn't want to relinquish its power and plans to extend the mask mandate on planes & public transportation. Not on my watch! I'll be forcing a vote next week to end this unscientific mandate. https://t.co/h4sDuqaqUg

— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 10, 2022

Per the Washington Examiner:

Last week, Sen. Rand Paul issued a press release that he would be forcing a vote on his resolution to end travel mask mandates on public transportation in the United States. With most mask mandates in the country coming to an end, the man should be celebrated as a national hero just for trying. Moreover, the public transportation industry, particularly the airline industry, always had inconsistent and baffling regulations regarding masks. If it passes, Paul’s resolution will be a welcome relief to many travelers.

“Since March 2020, unelected bureaucrats have incessantly declared that we should ‘follow the science,’” Paul said in a press release. “But the same bureaucrats continue to defy science by imposing an ineffective and restrictive mask mandate for individuals traveling on public transit and airplanes. As the entire world is learning to live with COVID, the federal government still uses fearmongering to stubbornly perpetuate its mandates, rather than giving clear-eyed, rational advice on how to best protect yourself from illness. That is why I am forcing a vote to repeal travel mask mandates on public transportation and put a stop to this anti-science, nanny state requirement.”

Fox 56 aired this video report: