US Extends Mask Requirements Through September 13

According to Reuters, the US will extend its Transportation Security Administration (TSA) face mask requirements across all US transportation networks through September 13. This is specific to the TSA requirements went into effect on February 2 and were set to expire on May 11.

This is merely a formality, as the requirements actually supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mask mandate, which was implemented as required by the Executive Order signed by President Biden shortly after taking office January 21.

Besides airports and on aircrafts, the requirements covers nearly all modes of public transportation in the US, including ride-share vehicles, buses, and rail.

Of course, compliance has been mostly voluntary, and many operators, including airlines, had introduced their own mask mandates long before the federal face mask requirements were introduced.

The TSA requirements supports the current CDC mask order, which was which also came into effect on February 2, but has no expiration timeline:

This Order will remain in effect unless modified or rescinded based on specific public health or other considerations, or until the Secretary of Health and Human Services rescinds the determination under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d) that a public health emergency exists.

To make things more complicated, the CDC mask order supports the Biden administration’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel (E.O. 13998), which also does not have an expiration time on the horizon.

Bottom Line

If you will be traveling this summer by any means of public transportation, you will be required to wear a mask, even if you are vaccinated.

Kevin