Washington, D.C. (Wednesday, April 20, 2022) – The Justice Department is moving forward to appeal a federal judge’s order that effectively upended the mask mandate on planes, trains, and buses.

The notice came just minutes after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said masking on indoor transportation remains necessary for the public health.

A notice of appeal was filed in federal court Wednesday in Tampa, Florida.  It remains unclear whether the Biden administration would ask the appeals court to grant an emergency stay to immediately reimpose the mask mandate on public transit.

A federal judge in Florida Monday struck down the national mask mandate for mass transit.  The decision prompted a ripple effect with many major airlines announcing face coverings would be optional.  Many local jurisdictions around the country also ended the mask mandates on buses and trains.