The Biden mask rule for flights and railways has been overturned by a US judge.

The Biden administration's mask mandate for aircraft and other kinds of public transportation has been declared unconstitutional by a federal judge in Florida.

The national public health agency had overstepped its legal authority in issuing the rule, according to US District Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle.

The US transit authority announced that mask-wearing would no longer be enforced.

The obligation was recently extended by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) until May 3rd.

Judge Mizelle is based in Florida, but federal judges have the power to reject measures that affect the entire country.

Her Monday directive effectively repeals the requirement for masks in all airports, trains, taxis, and transit hubs.

The decision was "disappointing," according to White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who also pointed out that the CDC still advises travelers to cover their mouths and noses.

A request for comment on Monday's verdict was not immediately returned by the CDC.

Because of an increase in Covid-19 instances, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy announced last week that the mandate would be prolonged until May.

The case was filed in July 2021 by the conservative Health Freedom Defense Fund (HFDF) and two Florida citizens who claimed that wearing masks made them feel anxious and panicked.

The plaintiffs claimed the CDC regulation was "arbitrary and capricious" since it exempted some categories - such as toddlers under the age of two - but not others.

Judge Mizelle, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump, determined that the CDC had wrongly used the "good cause exemption," which allows the agency to avoid public notice and discussion on the mandate.

"The Court deems unlawful and vacates the Mask Mandate because 'our system does not empower agencies to act unlawfully even in pursuit of laudable purposes,'" Judge Mizelle wrote, citing another case.

The Transportation Security Administration, which oversees US airport security, declared shortly after the legal judgment that the mask order would no longer be enforced.

Face coverings will no longer be required on domestic flights and some foreign flights, according to United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines.

More than 7,000 disruptive passenger events have been reported since the CDC first issued a public health order mandating travelers to wear masks in February 2021, with 70% of them concerning masking requirements, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The Covid-19 directives of the Biden administration have had varied results in the courts.

The White House's sweeping vaccine-or-test mandate for employees at major private corporations was halted by the Supreme Court in January.

The demand that all federal employees get vaccinated against Covid-19, imposed by the Biden administration, was upheld on appeal earlier this month.