CDC asks Justice Department to appeal judge's ruling that struck down mask mandate

[MichMan]

36. The OP isn't about states/counties/ cities. It is about Federal mandates for public transportation.

As you stated, the CDC by itself has no power to set mandates, however the administration bases federal policy on those CDC recommendations. When asked, the administration defers to the CDC as being the experts.

Even after nearly all states withdrew mask mandates, the CDC kept them in place for public transportation until May 3, and the administration agreed with that recommendation. My statement regarding keeping it in place after May 3 was strictly referring to the public transportation rules. Rules on which the administration believes they have the authority to set, or they wouldn't be appealing the recent court decision. The Federal government clearly does not have the authority to set nationwide mask mandates, which is why they deferred to the states from day one.

The fact that many people are questioning the decisions made by state and local elected politicians as being based on political considerations vs health concerns shows the lack of trust and cynicism of the public towards their elected representatives. The rapidly shifting mandates since the beginning of the pandemic have only exacerbated those levels of cynicism.