The Transportation Security Administration confirmed Tuesday that it is extending its mask mandate for travelers using public transportation through January, drawing out a policy that was set to expire next month. “TSA will extend the directives through Jan. 18, 2022,” a spokesperson for the agency told HuffPost. The extended mask mandate ― which requires travelers to wear masks while in airports, airplanes and other transportation hubs ― was first put into effect by President Joe Biden’s administration in January through an executive order. Though airlines were independently requiring masks before Biden came into office, former President Donald Trump stopped short of a TSA mask mandate and said airports and airlines were simply “strongly encouraged” to make their own mask requirements. Biden’s original mask mandate expired in May but was extended through Sept. 13 before Tuesday’s extension into January.

Source: Huffington Post August 17, 2021 23:03 UTC