Transit officials in Jacksonville have abolished their mask rules in response to a federal judge's ruling that the government can't require them.
A judge in Tampa on Monday struck down a requirement that travelers wear masks in airports and on planes, trains and buses, saying the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention overstepped its authority as it tried to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In response, the federal Transportation Security Administration said it would no longer enforce a mask mandate at airports, including Jacksonville International Airport.
"Effective immediately, masks are no longer mandatory at JAX," according to an announcement from the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. But the agency said travelers were welcome to wear masks if it made them more comfortable.
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority also won't require masks on buses or inside hubs, although the authority noted that "the CDC continues to recommend that people wear masks while in indoor public transportation settings."
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Tampa came five days after TSA had extended the mask requirement to May 3. The court decision puts that move on hold.
