The US Department of Justice (DOJ) said that it will appeal to revert the ruling made by a federal judge voiding the mask mandate in public transportation, if the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decides that face masks are still necessary.
The DOJ’s Director of Public Affairs, Anthoney Coley tweeted the department’s statement, which began by saying that the DOJ and CDC disagree with the district court’s decision.
New Statement on Mask Mandate Ruling pic.twitter.com/SwYHIqTG2e
— Anthony Coley (@AnthonyColeyDOJ) April 19, 2022
“The DOJ and CDC disagree with the district court’s decision and will appeal, subject to CDC’s conclusion that the order remains necessary for public health. The department continues to believe that the order requiring masking in the transportation corridor is a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health,” the statement said.
“If CDC concludes that a mandatory order remains necessary for the public’s health after that assessment, the Department of Justice will appeal the district court’s decision,” the statement concluded.
The statement also referred to April 13, 2022, when the CDC extended the federal mask mandate for passengers traveling on airplanes and public transportation until May 3, 2022.
The mandate was overturned on April 18, 2022 when US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said that the CDC had exceeded its legal powers by issuing the mandate in January 2021 to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.