Airport Alert: TSA Officially Extends Transportation Mask Mandate to April 18
March 15, 2022
The Transportation Security Administration has informed AAAE that the updated Security Directive (SD) extending the federal mask mandate for airport operators to April 18 will be posted March 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Other than the expiration date, there are no other significant changes expected in the SD. The SD will be posted on the TSA web board on HSIN.
In announcing the extension last week, TSA stated that the agency did so at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For its part, CDC plans to 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. According to the CDC, this revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. AAAE, along with many in the aviation industry, have raised concerns about the impact of the continued federal face mask requirement for transportation, particularly because the requirement is inconsistent with CDC guidance for the general public regarding mask use in other settings.
Senate Passes Resolution to End Federal Mask Mandate
Pressure on Capitol Hill, mostly by Congressional Republicans, continues to ratchet up against the federal mask mandate for travelers after last week's decision by the Biden Administration to extend masking requirements through April 18.
Late on March 15, the Senate passed a resolution of disapproval, S.J. Res. 37, which would end the mask mandate on public transportation. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined Republicans in supporting the resolution. The result is largely symbolic, though, given that the measure would certainly be vetoed by President Biden if the House was able to approve an identical resolution. Tuesday's vote echoes calls from Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and 30 other Republican senators last week urging President Biden to let the mask mandate expire, as well as end pre-departure testing for international travel. We understand that Republican leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will also be weighing in on this issue soon.
While it is unlikely that increased political pressure will influence the Biden Administration to end federal mask requirements before April 18, it could affect its decision to extend these requirements beyond the new deadline.
The Transportation Security Administration has informed AAAE that the updated Security Directive (SD) extending the federal mask mandate for airport operators to April 18 will be posted March 16 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Other than the expiration date, there are no other significant changes expected in the SD. The SD will be posted on the TSA web board on HSIN.
In announcing the extension last week, TSA stated that the agency did so at the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For its part, CDC plans to 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. According to the CDC, this revised framework will be based on the COVID-19 community levels, risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science. AAAE, along with many in the aviation industry, have raised concerns about the impact of the continued federal face mask requirement for transportation, particularly because the requirement is inconsistent with CDC guidance for the general public regarding mask use in other settings.
Senate Passes Resolution to End Federal Mask Mandate
Pressure on Capitol Hill, mostly by Congressional Republicans, continues to ratchet up against the federal mask mandate for travelers after last week's decision by the Biden Administration to extend masking requirements through April 18.
Late on March 15, the Senate passed a resolution of disapproval, S.J. Res. 37, which would end the mask mandate on public transportation. Senators Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Jon Tester (D-MT), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) joined Republicans in supporting the resolution. The result is largely symbolic, though, given that the measure would certainly be vetoed by President Biden if the House was able to approve an identical resolution. Tuesday's vote echoes calls from Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), the ranking member of the Senate Commerce Committee, and 30 other Republican senators last week urging President Biden to let the mask mandate expire, as well as end pre-departure testing for international travel. We understand that Republican leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will also be weighing in on this issue soon.
While it is unlikely that increased political pressure will influence the Biden Administration to end federal mask requirements before April 18, it could affect its decision to extend these requirements beyond the new deadline.
