HONOLULU — The state Department of Transportation announced Monday that masks are recommended but no longer required at Hawaii airports — a decision that follows by a mere hour a ruling by a federal judge in Florida that struck down the Biden administration’s federal mandate for airplanes and other modes of public transportation.

What You Need To Know

  • U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not allowing for public comment before implementing the mandate

  • A group called the Health Freedom Defense Fund and individual travelers filed the suit 

  • The CDC last week extended the mask mandate until May 3 in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases in parts of the country

  • TSA said it was immediately ceasing efforts to enforce the mask mandate

U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruled that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had exceeded its statutory authority and violated the Administrative Procedure Act by not allowing for public comment before implementing the mandate. 

The case grew out of a suit by a group called the Health Freedom Defense Fund and individual travelers. 

In rendering her decision, the Trump-appointed judge wrote: “Wearing a mask cleans nothing. At most, it traps virus droplets. But it neither ‘sanitizes’ the person wearing the mask nor ‘sanitizes’ the conveyance.”

The CDC last week extended the mask mandate until May 3 in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases in parts of the country.

The Florida ruling was followed closely by a statement from the Transportation Security Administration.

“Due to today’s court ruling, effective immediately, TSA will no longer enforce its Security Directives and Emergency Amendment requiring mask use on public transportation and transportation hubs,” the statement read. “TSA will also rescind the new Security Directives that were scheduled to take effect tomorrow. CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks in indoor public transportation settings at this time.”

Michael Tsai covers local and state politics for Spectrum News Hawaii.