LAUSR

On April 18, 2022, US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle in Florida ruled that the federal mask mandate covering planes and other forms of transportation exceeded the statutory authority of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Among other reasons, Judge Mizelle ruled that the CDC failed to justify the mandate order and did not follow proper rulemaking procedures. Public health law scholars and practitioners have strongly criticized the opinion and are concerned about the consequences for public health if upheld on appeal. What cannot be missed about this ruling, however, is the public's reaction to it. Even though polls show that most people continue to support a mask mandate on public transportation, the ruling itself, announced in mid‐flight on many airlines, led many to cheer and immediately remove their masks. In this perspective, we examine how such a seemingly common‐ sense public health measure became so politically divisive and what public health professionals can learn from this journey. In addressing these issues, we also want to acknowledge that state and local public health officials have managed the pandemic with exceptional dedication and commitment to protecting the public's health, despite the many obstacles that they confronted.