Face Masks Now Optional At All Major Florida Airports

TAMPA, FL — After receiving the official nod from the Transportation Security Administration, Florida's largest airports have all lifted their face mask requirements.

Tampa International Airport, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport, Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport, Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport and Jacksonville International no longer require masks in the facilities.

Travelers can now fly and walk through the terminal mask-free.

The airports made the announcement after the TSA issued a statement making face masks voluntary at airports and on planes.

The TSA's decision comes on the heels of Monday's ruling by a Tampa federal court judge overturning the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's national mask mandate for all forms of public transportation, including planes, trains, ferries and buses.

In a statement released Tuesday, Justice Department spokesman Anthony Coley said officials believe the federal mask order was “a valid exercise of the authority Congress has given CDC to protect the public health.” He said it is “an important authority the department will continue to work to preserve.”

Coley said the CDC will continue to assess public health conditions, and if the CDC determines a mandate is necessary for public health, the Justice Department will file an appeal.

“If the 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," he said.

After reviewing the case filed by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and 22 other attorneys general, U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle concluded that the CDC's order exceeded the agency's statutory authority.

"The court concludes that the mask mandate exceeds the CDC's statutory authority and violates the procedures required for agency rulemaking under the APA (Administrative Procedure Act)," the judge wrote in her ruling. "Accordingly, the court vacates the mandate and remands it to the CDC."

The CDC has mandated masks on public transportation since January 2021. The mandate was scheduled to expire on April 18. However, last Wednesday, the CDC announced that it was extending the mandate an additional 15 days (until May 3).

“Since early April, there have been increases in the seven-day moving average of cases in the U.S. In order to assess the potential impact the rise of cases has on severe disease, including hospitalizations and deaths, and health care system capacity, the CDC Order will remain in place at this time,” the CDC said in a statement.

On Monday, the CDC announced it would acquiesce to Mizelle's court order lifting the mask restrictions.

"As a result of a court order, effective immediately and as of April 18, 2022, CDC’s Jan. 29, 2021, order requiring masks on public transportation conveyances and at transportation hubs is no longer in effect," said the CDC. "Therefore, CDC will not enforce the order. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis declared the judge's decision to be a victory in favor of his anti-mandate stance and a blow to the Biden administration.

"News of the invalidation of the Biden forced mask requirement by the federal judge in Florida was met with massive cheers and even tears of joy by passengers and flight attendants," DeSantis said Tuesday. "The proper policy is simple: end all mandates."

In her 59-page ruling, Mizelle said the only remedy was to vacate the rule entirely because it would be impossible to end it for the limited group of people who objected to it in the lawsuit.

"A limited remedy would be no remedy at all," she said. "Because our system does not permit agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of desirable ends, the court declares unlawful and vacates the mask mandate."

She added that the CDC didn't offer justification for the extension of its mask mandate and didn't follow proper procedure in extending the mandate.

The responses from St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport and Tampa International Airport were succinct.

"Per TSA, the federal mask mandate has ended and masks are optional at St. Pete-Clearwater Int'l Airport. Thank you," said PIE on its Facebook page.

"Per the TSA's removal of its federal mask mandate, masks are now optional at Tampa International Airport effective immediately," said TIA in a news release. "Passengers, employees and guests are no longer required to wear masks or face coverings in any of the facilities or terminals at TPA."

Biden and Moody vowed to continue fighting the Biden administration's efforts to require masks on public transportation.

“President Biden’s shortsighted, heavy-handed and unlawful travel policies are frustrating travelers and causing chaos on public transportation. It’s long past time to alleviate some of the pressure on travelers and those working in the travel industry," Moody said.

“Florida has led the nation in standing up to misguided federal government policies and fighting back against heavy-handed mandates that have no scientific backing," DeSantis said. "If politicians and celebrities can attend the Super Bowl unmasked, every U.S. citizen should have the right to fly unmasked. It is well past time to get rid of this unnecessary mandate and get back to normal life.”