Overview
- On November 22, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy tweeted at Gavin Newsom, criticizing past mask mandates and contrasting them with the Department’s current attire recommendations.
- View from the Wing frames the exchange as partisan positioning aimed at weakening Newsom as he seeks national standing for a presidential run.
- The federal transportation mask mandate referenced in the dispute was issued in 2021 and has been off the books for about three and a half years.
- The column argues masks on planes were unnecessary given HEPA filtration and downward airflow, and says dress suggestions will not address onboard behavior problems.
- The piece links a rise in in-flight incidents to more infrequent travelers and broader social tensions, and reports no new federal policy changes stemming from the online spat.