As of late Monday afternoon, Portland International Airport is no longer enforcing the federal transportation mask mandate.
This comes after a federal judge in Florida voided the national mask mandate covering airplanes and other public transportation, ruling it exceeded the authority of U.S. health officials.
The Port of Portland confirmed the new development and asked travelers to be “kind and respectful of a person’s individual decision to wear a mask or not.”
Alaska, United and Delta were among airlines who announced they will not be requiring staff or customers to wear a mask.
Portland public transit officials announced Tuesday morning that masks will be optional on TriMet vehicles. Face masks will still be provided on TriMet trains and buses for riders who want them.
The Biden administration said the face mask rule will not be enforced nationwide, as federal agencies decide how to respond to the judge’s order.
But in a press briefing on Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called the ruling a “disappointing decision.” She added that the CDC still recommends wearing a mask while using public transit.
The U.S. Justice Department declined to comment when asked if it would seek an emergency stay to block the judge’s order.
This story was originally published by Oregon Public Broadcasting.
