The transportation mask mandate was originally struck down due to lack of public comment period.
The Justice Department has asked the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse its ruling to overturn the White House’s mask mandate for public transportation. The court heard arguments both for and against the proposed reversal, with the core issue being the lack of a public comment period before the imposition of such a sweeping mandate.
Justice Department attorney Brian Springer argued that the quick decision was necessary “to prevent the possible infections and deaths that could result if people didn’t do the simple thing of just putting on a mask while they were traveling.”
Lawyer Brant Hadaway, representing the five people who had sued to challenge the mandate, noted that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) had not sought a stay of the district court’s original ruling, which was made in April 2022. He argued that the CDC would have sought a faster ruling had the agency believed the issue was a “matter of life and death.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for the judges of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals as they consider the arguments in the case.
- For attorneys in the Justice Department as they argue cases in federal court.
- For CDC officials as they review health guidelines and evaluate the health needs of the public.
Sources: NY Post, Reuters
