The Transportation Security Administration will be tasked with helping enforce a nationwide mask mandate that goes into effect on Monday at 11:59 p.m. Under the mandate, which was issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week, masks will be required on all forms of public transportation, including planes, buses, cabs, and trains.
“Requiring masks on our transportation systems will protect Americans and provide confidence that we can once again travel safely even during this pandemic,” the order from the CDC said. “Therefore, requiring masks will help us control this pandemic and aid in re-opening America’s economy.”
All passengers will be required to wear masks while going through airport security checkpoints and must keep them on while in the airport and onboard planes. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security David P. Pekoske said the TSA agents will work other federal agencies to ensure all passengers are following COVID-related guidelines.
"This includes supporting the CDC in the enforcement of any orders or other requirements necessary to protect the transportation system, including passengers and employees, from Covid-19 and to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 through the transportation system, to the extent appropriate and consistent with applicable law," Pekoske said. "I specifically direct the Transportation Security Administration to use its authority to accept the services of, provide services to, or otherwise cooperate with other federal agencies, including through the implementation of countermeasures with appropriate departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States in order to address a threat to transportation, recognizing that such threat may involve passenger and employee safety."
The TSA did not provide information on what specific measures it would take to enforce the mask mandate.
Photo: Getty Images