DHS declares National Emergency Determination to mitigate spread of COVID-19
Requires wearing masks at TSA screening checkpoints and throughout commercial and public transportation system
January 31, 2021
Below is a media release from the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday, January 31, 2021:
Acting Secretary Pekoske Directs TSA to Mitigate Spread of COVID-19 Through the Transportation SystemToday (Sunday, January 31, 2021) the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security announced the issuance of a National Emergency Determination to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This determination enables TSA to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel. TSA will require individuals to wear a mask at TSA screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation system. Imposing these proven public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will mitigate the safety and security threat COVID-19 poses to transportation and contribute to the overall national effort to reduce the transmission of the disease.
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Determination of a National Emergency Requiring Actions to Protect the Safety of Americans Using and Employed by the Transportation System
As reflected in numerous determinations by the Executive Branch, including the President’s March 13, 2020 determination that the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) constitutes a "national emergency" under the National Emergencies Act and the nationwide public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services on January 31, 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose a threat to our health and security.
"In the light of these circumstances and direction from the President, and after consultation with public health officials, I, David P. Pekoske, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, pursuant to the authority vested in me under section 101 of the Aviation and Transportation Security Act (ATSA), as codified at section 114(g) of title 49, United States Code (U.S.C.) do hereby determine that a national emergency exists and am directing the Transportation Security Administration to take actions consistent with the authorities in ATSA as codified at 49 U.S.C. sections 106(m) and 114(f), (g), (l), and (m) to implement the Executive Order to promote safety in and secure the transportation system."
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Click on this link for the text of the Determination of a National Emergency Requiring Actions to Protect the Safety of Americans Using and Employed by the Transportation System
Click here for additional information about the Determination of a Nationwide Public Health Emergency.
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