White House Blocked CDC Order Requiring Masks on Public and Commercial Transportation

 On October 9, 2020, the New York Times reported that the White House Coronavirus Task Force had blocked release of an order by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The order would have required facial coverings to be worn on planes, trains, buses and subways as well as in airports, stations, and other transit depots across the U.S.

According to the New York Times report, the White House Coronavirus Task Force "declined to even discuss" the order, blocking its implementation. The New York Times reported that while some members of the White House Coronavirus Task Force do support a mask mandate, one of Trump’s closest advisors, radiologist Dr. Scott Atlas as well as Vice President Mike Pence, both do not support the mandate. A task force official told reporters that “the decision to require masks should be left up to states and localities.”

Biden Administration Response: 

On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel. The Executive Order states:

"The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Surgeon General, and the National Institutes of Health have concluded that mask-wearing, physical distancing, appropriate ventilation, and timely testing can mitigate the risk of travelers spreading COVID-19.  Accordingly, to save lives and allow all Americans, including the millions of people employed in the transportation industry, to travel and work safely, it is the policy of my Administration to implement these public health measures consistent with CDC guidelines on public modes of transportation and at ports of entry to the United States."   

It directs the heads of relevant executive departments and agencies to "require masks to be worn in compliance with CDC guidelines" on public and commercial transportation.