U.S. to Appeal Mask Travel Ruling, Setting Up Court Fight (1)

The U.S. Justice Department said it would appeal a Florida judge’s ruling that threw out a mask requirement for plane and air travel, setting up a likely court battle that could extend past the midterm elections.

The department on Wednesday filed papers in Tampa, where the ruling was handed down on Monday, notifying the court of its plans to appeal. The filing was signed by Brian Boynton, principal deputy assistant attorney general.

The department said it made the move following a request from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“It is CDC’s continuing assessment that at ...