White House press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
SRDTF News
UPDATED 9:22 AM PT – Tuesday, February 8, 2022
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki recently claimed the administration has always supported school districts making mask choices for themselves. Her comment came after she was pushed on the issue during a press briefing.
On Monday, Psaki was asked if the administration was supportive of Democrat states lifting the mandate on schools. She said that the CDC still recommends universal forced facial coverings, but suggested it’s up to districts to decide what’s best for them.
“Again, our advice to every school district is to abide by public health guidelines,” stated the press secretary. “It continues to be, at this point that the CDC is advising, that masks can delay, reduce transmission. There are also a number of other mitigation measures that we’ve put in place, but that continues to be CDC guidance. It’s always been up to local school districts to determine how they implement.”
Psaki has vehemently pushed masks in schools from the podium and on Twitter. At the beginning of the school year, she even mocked Republicans who didn’t want their kids to cover their faces while noting her child is fine wearing a mask all day.
BREAKING: A group of Loudoun County parents have filed a lawsuit against the Loudoun School Board for ignoring @GlennYoungkin‘s Exec. Order that allows a parental opt-out on student face masks in schools. Thank-you Governor for fighting for parents! pic.twitter.com/xHvQ0N5oT5
— Virginia GOP (@VA_GOP) February 1, 2022
On top of that, when Virginia Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin got rid of the state’s school mandate, Psaki stood by the school districts defying his order.