Jen Psaki Says Court Ruling Ending Mask Mandate For Travel Is 'Disappointing'

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said a federal judges ruling in Florida ending the mask mandate on public transportation is a disappointing decision.

We also think the mask mandate should be in place and that its safer for individuals who are flying to continue to wear masks, Psaki told reporters Monday following the judges ruling. So we would say to anyone sitting out there: Wed recommend you wear masks on the airplane.

Reporter: \"There may be people sitting in an airport bar watching right now wondering. If they're boarding a flight tonight, is the mask mandate still in place?\"@PressSec: \"To anyone sitting out there, we would recommend you wear masks on the airplane.\" https://t.co/1s3U2Uw5Jo pic.twitter.com/cbJo48ITTw

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Reporter: "There may be people sitting in an airport bar watching right now wondering. If they're boarding a flight tonight, is the mask mandate still in place?"@PressSec : "To anyone sitting out there, we would recommend you wear masks on the airplane." https://t.co/1s3U2Uw5Jo pic.twitter.com/cbJo48ITTw
The Hill (@thehill) April 18, 2022

Psaki added that the Department of Homeland Security and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will review the judges decision, and the Department of Justice will determine whether to appeal.

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, nominated by former President Donald Trump , said mask requirements meant as public health safeguards during the coronavirus pandemic exceeded the CDCs authority.

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, Mizelle wrote in a 59-page ruling.

Psaki said the Biden administration disagrees with the judges reasoning.

Transportation carriers quickly reacted. Major U.S. airlines, Amtrak and Uber dropped their mask requirements. New Yorks Metropolitan Transportation Authority said its mask mandate remains in place.

The change in rules caught some passengers mid-flight. A clip posted on social media shows people clapping following an onboard announcement telling them they were no longer required to mask up.

Passengers on a Delta Airlines flight got a surprise on their way to Los Angeles on Monday the overturning of the national mask mandate for planes and public transit.

\"People clapped, drinks are flowing, masks off,\" a passenger wrote on Instagram pic.twitter.com/7RMoiUjINk

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Passengers on a Delta Airlines flight got a surprise on their way to Los Angeles on Monday the overturning of the national mask mandate for planes and public transit.

"People clapped, drinks are flowing, masks off," a passenger wrote on Instagram pic.twitter.com/7RMoiUjINk
CBS News (@CBSNews) April 19, 2022

The CDC, which continues to recommend mask-wearing aboard public transportation despite the ruling, last week extended a national mask mandate until May 3 as the spread of the BA.2 variant continues driving an uptick in COVID-19 cases.

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 when it extended the mandate.

They made it very clear that they needed 15 days to assess the impact of BA.2 on hospitalizations, deaths, to see if theres a substantial increase in severe disease, Ashish Jha, the White House COVID-19 response coordinator, told ABCs This Week on Sunday. My expectation is that were going to gather that data and within a couple weeks, were going to make a more durable decision.

Asked if he expects the CDCs travel mask mandate to be extended again, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha tells @GStephanopoulos that scientists need time to \"assess the impact of BA.2 on hospitalizations, deaths.\" https://t.co/K8D1DNV6Co pic.twitter.com/ACUIIH2TNL

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Asked if he expects the CDCs travel mask mandate to be extended again, White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha tells @GStephanopoulos that scientists need time to "assess the impact of BA.2 on hospitalizations, deaths." https://t.co/K8D1DNV6Co pic.twitter.com/ACUIIH2TNL
This Week (@ThisWeekABC) April 18, 2022

Jha added that COVID-19 remains a real challenge for the country.

The pandemic is not over, Jha told George Stephanopoulos. As much as we wish it were, were in much better shape, but we have to keep plugging away at managing the virus to get back to our lives.