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White House opposes requirement for passengers to wear masks on planes, trains

David ShepardsonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House on Thursday said it opposed language in a bill before Congress that would require airline, train and public transit passengers and workers to wear masks amid the coronavirus pandemic.
FILE PHOTO: Members of a flight crew wear face masks as a preventive measure during the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) as they arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, U.S., March 20, 2020. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File PhotoThe White House Office of Management and Budget called the provision in a U.S. House of Representatives spending bill requiring the masks “overly restrictive.” It added that “such decisions should be left to states, local governments, transportation systems, and public health leaders.”

Airlines, Amtrak and most public transit systems and U.S. airports require all passengers and workers to wear facial coverings.

Representative David Price, a Democrat who chairs the appropriations panel overseeing transportation issues, proposed an amendment this month to require the masks.

“President Trump’s flagrant disregard for basic public health measures is bad enough, but threatening to derail federal funding for major transportation and housing programs due to a common-sense provision to require masks on planes, trains, and buses is baffling,” Price said Thursday.

The House is set to vote on the bill Friday.

The statement comes as administration officials have held extensive talks in recent weeks about whether the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) should issue an order requiring facial coverings at U.S. airports, train and transit stations and onboard airplanes, trains and transit services, five U.S. and airline industry officials told Reuters.

Airlines have pressed the Trump administration to do more, including mandating temperature checks, as a way of reassuring wary passengers.

HHS declined to comment.

In a July 8 letter, seen by Reuters, Airports Council International – North America chief executive Kevin Burke urged HHS Secretary Alex Azar to issue an order requiring “facial coverings by all individuals in air transportation.”

“A federal requirement on facial coverings will not only serve to instill confidence in those who work or travel through America’s airports, but also ensure a consistent application throughout the aviation system,” Burke wrote.

Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Diane Craft and Aurora Ellis
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I just don't get it. Even if you think masks don't work, what is the harm in a move that increases the confidence of the majority of customers? And why actively oppose this? From a political standpoint, if masks are the hill you want to die on, the White House could have just chalked it up to the usual parasitic nature of details in major legislation and "blamed" the congress for enacting a public health measure. Are they actively trying to ensure that airlines don't recover?

Pipe

JamesNoBrakes

What are the recommendations of the POTUS's executive branch agencies?

pipe

A quick bit of research revealed the answer to your question:

"I’m speaking with myself, number one, because I have a very good brain and I’ve said a lot of things... I know what I’m doing and I listen to a lot of people, I talk to a lot of people and at the appropriate time I’ll tell you who the people are. But I speak to a lot of people. My primary consultant is myself, and I have, you know, I have a good instinct for this stuff," Trump said.

JamesNoBrakes

It's like disagreeing with yourself.

Miso

https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202004.0203/v2

Av8rPHX

Here is what the wording in the bill says. I got bored last night and read nearly the entire thing


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firefighterplt

I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

tallpilot

I'm curious why ALPA has a dog in this fight. I could see the AFA making it a signature issue. I wear a mask until I get into my seat. I agree with whoever it was here that posted he would wear a clown nose if it makes people fly again. I am firmly in the camp that wearing a mask while flying is a bigger safety issue than not wearing one, so I would fight that.

In this case it seems we would just be codifying what is de facto policy anyway. I seem to recall United and perhaps other carriers stating they would ban passengers for life if they don't wear a mask. I'm not sure what adding more regulatory burden would accomplish.