Numerous Republican politicians quickly celebrated a federal judge’s ruling on Monday that President Joe Biden’s national mask mandate on public transportation was “unlawful.”
Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, District Judge, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, ruled that the mandate “exceeded the CDC’s statutory authority, improperly invoked the good cause exception to notice and comment rulemaking, and failed to adequately explain its decisions.”
“The Court DECLARES UNLAWFUL and VACATES the Mask Mandate, remanding it to the CDC for further proceedings consistent with this order,” Mizelle ordered. “The Court directs the Clerk to TERMINATE President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., as a Defendant to this action, to ENTER final judgment in favor of Plaintiffs as prescribed in this order, and to CLOSE this case.”
The ruling spurred a flood of positive reactions online from notable public figures, including:
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R): “Great to see a federal judge in Florida follow the law and reject the Biden transportation mask mandate. Both airline employees and passengers deserve to have this misery end.”
- Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN): “Good news for commonsense! If the Biden Admin wants to end Title 42 for illegal immigrants because the COVID pandemic is over, then there is no reason whatsoever to force people to mask on planes or any form of public transit.”
- Rep. Barry Moore (R-AL): “A federal judge just struck down the Biden admin’s mask mandate for airplanes. We all know this isn’t about science anymore. It’s time for the CDC to end its tyrannical mandates for all Americans.”
- Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL): “This is great news. The Biden administration has abused the use of mask mandates for far too long.”
- Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ): “Biden’s unlawful mask mandate for travel has been struck down by a federal judge. The CDC exceeded its statutory authority in issuing the mask mandate.”
- Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY): “Great news! The Biden Admin’s unscientific travel mask mandate has been STRUCK DOWN by a federal judge! This is the correct & long overdue decision. Americans are ready for a return to normalcy & it’s time for @JoeBiden & control freak bureaucrats to stop standing in their way.”
- Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR): “Great news—a federal judge struck down Biden’s stupid transportation mask mandate. This is a win for common sense and a crushing loss for the Democrats’ obsession with forcing Americans to wear masks forever. Also, why wasn’t Biden wearing a mask as he followed the Easter Bunny around the White House lawn? Biden will be 80 in a few months—if he thinks masks are necessary, he should wear one.”
Mizelle, who was appointed by former President Donald Trump, clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.