After the TSA announced that it would not fight the ruling by a federal judge on Monday striking down the Biden administration’s mask mandate while traveling, Gov. Murphy said NJ Transit would no longer require masking on its trains and buses.
“.@TSA announced that it’ll no longer enforce a mask mandate in public transportation settings. Masks will no longer be required on @NJTRANSIT & by South Jersey Transportation Authority. Individuals may wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk,” Murphy tweeted.
.@TSA announced that it'll no longer enforce a mask mandate in public transportation settings. Masks will no longer be required on @NJTRANSIT & by South Jersey Transportation Authority. Individuals may wear a mask based on personal preference, informed by personal level of risk.
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) April 19, 2022
Individual agencies and companies still have the right to impose their own mask mandates despite there being no federal mandate.
Numerous airlines said Monday they will be dropping their mask mandates as well following the judge’s ruling, though some airline passengers said their pilots have still urged them to mask up while on the plane.
Dozens of videos posted on social media showed passengers and plane crews celebrating mid-air as the end of the mask mandate was announced.
Celebration breaks out on a @JetBlue flight.
The mask mandate has been lifted. ???? pic.twitter.com/ZVSb7fhaDk
— Jack Langer (@jacklanger) April 19, 2022
Plane applauded as the stewardess announced the end of the mandate. She broke into tears as she got to take off her mask for the first time in 2 years ???? pic.twitter.com/WlCpZk30QM
— Kyle Mann (@The_Kyle_Mann) April 19, 2022
Pilot announces an end to Biden’s Mask Mandate, the reaction from everyone on the plane says it all.
This is awesome ????????
— Benny (@bennyjohnson) April 19, 2022
The federal mask mandate for travelers went into effect in January of 2021, and was extended multiple times, including just recently by President Biden until May 3rd.
The Biden administration has signaled that it will not appeal the judge’s ruling, thus ending the travel mask mandate once and for all.