Simpson Tells Biden Administration to Ditch the Public Transportation Mask Mandate

Washington, D.C. – Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today sent a letter with several other colleagues to the Department of Transportation requesting the Biden Administration reverse their decision to extend the mask mandate on public transportation.  On March 10, the Transportation Security Administration announced the extension of the expiring federal mask mandate on public transportation to April 18.

“The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has recently announced that more than 98% of the country is in a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level,” said Simpson.  “This Administration has constantly told us to ‘follow the science,’ which makes the extension of the public transportation mask mandate absurd.  It is time to allow Americans to get back to normal life while case rates are low, and it is clearly safe to do so.”

The letter notes that operators across all modes of our nation’s transportation system are looking to return to normal operations and capacity levels.  Most states and many localities have moved to lift their own mask mandates since February, yet the Biden Administration refused to allow the transportation mask mandate to expire on March 18, as scheduled. 

“Americans are tired of conflicting and hyperbolic public health recommendations,” said Simpson.  “This Administration loses credibility when it continues to push regulations that are not in line with reality or science.  I hope the Administration reverses course on this senseless overstep.”

Click HERE to see the full letter and list of signers.