Biden Promises Face Covering Regulations on Flights

If elected, U.S. presidential candidate Joe Biden says his administration would make it mandatory for flyers to wear face masks aboard aircraft. The policy wouldn’t just target airplanes: Face coverings would be required for all interstate travel, including buses and trains.

Throughout the 2020 U.S. presidential campaign, the use of face coverings has been a contentious point between both candidates. With around one week to go before Election Day on Nov. 3, 2020, Democratic candidate Joe Biden says his administration would make a face covering mandate a federal rule for interstate travel. Reuters reports the former vice president made the comments during a speech in Delaware on Friday, Oct. 23, 2020.

“Wearing masks is not a political statement, it is a scientific imperative.”

Throughout both debates, Biden has expressed his belief that the widespread use of face coverings in public can help reduce the spread of COVID-19. During his speech, he turned face mask usage into a campaign promise, saying he would make it a formal rule for interstate travel or entering federal buildings.

“As president I will mandate mask wearing in all federal buildings and all interstate transportation because masks save lives – period,” said Biden, as quoted by Reuters. “Wearing masks is not a political statement, it is a scientific imperative.”

Biden’s response is the complete opposite from the current stance of the White House, the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration. Multiple times, the executive branch and agencies have refused to create a national face covering mandate.

During a hearing before the Senate Commerce committee, FAA administrator Stephen Dickson told the elected officials his group wouldn’t create regulatory mandates. Rather, they would create “very specific” guidelines, which the agency “expect for all air carriers and the public to follow.”

This neutral position was upheld by the U.S. Department of Transportation, after an AFL-CIO petition to create a face covering rule was shot down. In their response, the DOT said “there should be no more regulations than necessary,” saying that the airlines and other interstate operators’ policies were “adequate to address the concerns” of a face covering rule.

Airlines Still Want Federal Rules, as Evidence Mounts on Face Covering Effectiveness

Even though the current government has not made a move towards a formal face covering rule, it’s still a topic that airlines reportedly want federal officials to consider. A recent report suggests airline employees still want a rule to be made, as they feel like they have little authority to enforce the rules if a customer does not comply.

Each of the major U.S. airlines have adopted a “zero tolerance” approach to face mask non-compliance. In many cases, going so far to cancel the itineraries and temporarily ban any flyer who refuses to wear a covering while aboard an aircraft.