>> This is the pbs newshour.
>> For the first time in two
years, many airline passengers
and some staff are flying today
without a mask.
The change came quickly and
unexpectedly after a judge's
decision.
John yang has our report.
>> And I just checked with the
company, and the company's
position is, delta position is,
masks will be optional this
evening for all crew and
passengers as well
[applause]
>> In flight announcements
yesterday
met with jubilation
after a federal judge in Florida
struck down the national mask
mandate on all public
transportation.
Within hours all major u-s
airlines American, delta,
southwest, and united stopped
requiring masks on their
flights.
On a trip to New Hampshire
today, president Biden was asked
about the ruling.
>> Should people continue to
wear masks on planes?
Biden: That's up to them.
>> Are you going to appeal the
ruling striking down the
mandate?
>> I haven't spoken to the CDC
yet
>> At Washington, d-c's, Reagan
national airport, some expressed
concern.
>> To me it was worrisome, my
reaction was worrisome because
there is a constant surge and it
seems like if there is a surge
why are the masks coming off, we
have seen that it's proven to
work so it is very concerning
and I'm wondering if this will
add on to the surge.
It has encouraged me to approach
safety even more so, since
others aren't. Just wear a mask,
wear two if I have to. Always
sanitize, well I do that anyway,
well it's really got me alarmed
and got me to distance myself
even more from people.
>> Others welcomed the news.
>> I was really excited cuz who
wants to wear a mask?
I don't really care for the mask
mandate to begin with personally
I don't think it does any good,
as long as you cough in your arm
and wash your hands so I don't
believe the mask mandate did any
good.
>> But it is also nice to know I
don't have to be required to
wear a mask, it's my choice and
for me I think it is a lot about
about having the freedom to
choose to mask or not mask
depending on what my situation
is.
>> Amtrak also dropped its
requirement.
But some regional transit
systems, such New York's subway
system, have chosen to keep it.
>> I just feel like mask
mandates are coming down too
quickly. People at my school are
getting it like every day.
>> It doesn't matter to me what
they do in Florida. I'm still
going to be wearing my mask.
>> You can see I don't got no
mask right now so that's cool
with me. Better for me. I didn't
even know there was one.
>> Today, ride-hailing companies
Uber and Lyft said masks would
be optional for riders and
drivers but that local
regulations could still require
them
for now, the result is a
patchwork of rules on public
transportation.
The Biden administration has
been grappling with how long to
keep the mask requirement on
planes, trains and taxis. Just a
week ago, the c-d-c extended its
rule to may 3rd, while officials
assessed covid trends.
But yesterday's court ruling
short-circuited that. Judge
Kathryn Kimball Mizelle said
that when a passenger is denied
an airline seat for not wearing
a mask, their freedom of
movement is curtailed in a way
similar to detention and
quarantine.
She ordered a nationwide
injunction, despite noting that
she quote shares some skepticism
about the practice. But, she
said, one was necessary to grant
compete relief in the case.
Mizelle is a trump nominee who
was confirmed by the Republican
controlled senate along strict
party lines after the 2020
election.
All this comes as u-s infections
have climbed more than 40
percent in the last two weeks,
although hospitalizations and
deaths have fallen.
For the pbs newshour, I'm John
yang.
>> The department of justice
announced today that it is
considering appealing the ruling
depending on the view of the
CDC.