Transportation Security Administration SECURITY DIRECTIVE

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Transportation Security Administration

6595 Springfield Center Drive

Springfield, Virginia 20598

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Transportation

Security

Administration

SECURITY DIRECTIVE

NUMBER SD 1542-21-01C

SUBJECT Security Measures – Mask Requirements

EFFECTIVE DATE January 19, 2022

EXPIRATION DATE March 18, 2022

CANCELS AND SUPERSEDES SD 1542-21-01B

APPLICABILITY Airport operators regulated under 49 CFR 1542.103 and

airlines that have exclusive area agreements under 49 CFR

1542.111

AUTHORITY 49 U.S.C. 114 and 44903; 49 CFR 1542.303

LOCATION Airports within the United States

PURPOSE AND GENERAL INFORMATION

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and to reduce the spread of the virus, the President

issued an Executive Order, Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel,

on January 21, 2021, requiring masks to be worn in and on airports, on commercial aircraft, and

in various modes of surface transportation.

On January 27, 2021, the Acting Secretary of

Homeland Security determined a national emergency existed

requiring the Transportation

Security Administration (TSA) to issue this Security Directive (SD) to implement the Executive

Order and enforce the related Order

issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC), pursuant to the authority of 49 U.S.C. sections 114 and 44903. Consistent with these

mandates and TSA’s authority, TSA is issuing this SD requiring masks to be worn to mitigate

86 FR 7205 (published Jan. 26, 2021).

Acting Secretary David P. Pekoske, Determination of a National Emergency Requiring Actions to Protect the Safety

of Americans Using and Employed by the Transportation System (Jan. 27, 2021), available at

https://www.dhs.gov/publication/determination-national-emergency-requiring-actions-protect-safety-americans-using-

and (accessed Feb. 22, 2021). The Acting Secretary’s determination directs TSA to take actions consistent with its

statutory authorities “to implement the Executive Order to promote safety in and secure the transportation system.” In

particular, the determination directs TSA to support “the CDC in the enforcement of any orders or other requirements

necessary to protect the transportation system, including passengers and employees, from COVID-19 and to mitigate

the spread of COVID-19 through the transportation system.”

See Order Under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) and 42 Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR) §§ 70.2, 71.31(B), 71.32(B); Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Stations,

Ports, or Similar Transportation Hubs (January 29, 2021)

Security Directive SD 1542-21-01C

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the spread of COVID-19 during air travel. TSA developed these requirements in consultation

with the Federal Aviation Administration and CDC. The requirements in this directive apply to

all individuals, including those already vaccinated.

DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this SD, the following definitions apply:

Conveyance has the same definition as under 42 CFR 70.1, meaning “an aircraft, train, road

vehicle, vessel…or other means of transport, including military.”

Mask means a material covering the nose and mouth of the wearer, excluding face shields.

ACTIONS REQUIRED

Except at locations under the control of an aircraft operator, foreign air carrier, or a federal

government agency or their contractors, the airport operator must apply the following measures:

A. The airport operator must make best efforts to provide individuals with prominent and

adequate notice of the mask requirements to facilitate awareness and compliance.

This

notice must also inform individuals of the following:

1. Federal law requires wearing a mask at all times in and on the airport and failure to

comply may result in removal and denial of re-entry.

2. Refusing to wear a mask in or on the airport is a violation of federal law; individuals may

be subject to penalties under federal law.

B. The airport operator must require that individuals in or on the airport wear a mask, except as

described in Sections D., E., and F.

1. If individuals are not wearing masks, ask them to put a mask on.

2. If individuals refuse to wear a mask in or on the airport, escort them from the airport.

C. The airport operator must ensure direct employees, authorized representatives, tenants, and

vendors wear a mask at all times in or on the airport, except as described in Sections D., E.,

and F.

A properly worn mask completely covers the nose and mouth of the wearer. A mask should be secured to the head,

including with ties or ear loops. A mask should fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face. Masks do not

include face shields. Masks can be either manufactured or homemade and should be a solid piece of material without

slits, exhalation valves, or punctures. Medical masks and N-95 respirators fulfill the requirements of this SD. CDC

guidance for attributes of acceptable masks in the context of this SD is available at

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html.

Notice may include, if feasible, advance notifications on digital platforms, such as on apps, websites, or email; posted

signage in multiple languages with illustrations; or other methods as appropriate.

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D. The requirement to wear a mask does not apply under the following circumstances:

1. When necessary to temporarily remove the mask for identity verification purposes.

2. While eating, drinking, or taking oral medications for brief periods.

Prolonged periods

of mask removal are not permitted for eating or drinking; the mask must be worn

between bites and sips.

3. While communicating with a person who is deaf or hard of hearing, when the ability to

see the mouth is essential for communication.

4. If unconscious (for reasons other than sleeping), incapacitated, unable to be awakened, or

otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

E. The following conveyances are exempted from this SD:

1. Persons in private conveyances operated solely for personal, non-commercial use.

2. A driver, when operating a commercial motor vehicle as this term is defined in 49 CFR

390.5, if the driver is the sole occupant of the vehicle.

F. This SD exempts the following categories of persons from wearing masks:

1. Children under the age of 2.

The CDC has stated that brief periods of close contact without a mask should not exceed 15 minutes. See

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/public-health-recommendations.html

Persons who are experiencing difficulty breathing or shortness of breath or are feeling winded may remove the mask

temporarily until able to resume normal breathing with the mask. Persons who are vomiting should remove the mask

until vomiting ceases. Persons with acute illness may remove the mask if it interferes with necessary medical care

such as supplemental oxygen administered via an oxygen mask.

Airport operators may impose requirements, or conditions of carriage, on persons requesting an exemption from the

requirement to wear a mask, including medical consultation by a third party, medical documentation by a licensed

medical provider, and/or other information as determined by the airport operator, as well as require evidence that the

person does not have COVID-19 such as a negative result from a SAR-CoV-2 viral test or documentation of recovery

from COVID-19. CDC definitions for SAR-CoV-2 viral test and documentation of recovery are available in

Frequently Asked Questions at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-

travelers.html. Airport operators may also impose additional protective measures that improve the ability of a person

eligible for exemption to maintain social distance (separation from others by 6 feet), such as scheduling travel at less

crowded times or on less crowded conveyances, or seating or otherwise situating the individual in a less crowded

section of the conveyance or airport. Airport operators may further require that persons seeking exemption from the

requirement to wear a mask request an accommodation in advance.

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2. People with disabilities who cannot wear a mask, or cannot safely wear a mask, because of

the disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.).

3. People for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job

duty as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.

G. If an individual refuses to comply with mask requirements, follow incident reporting

procedures in accordance with the Airport Security Program and provide the following

information, if available:

1. Date and airport code;

2. Individual’s full name and contact information;

3. Name and contact information for any direct airport employees or authorized

representatives involved in the incident; and

4. The circumstances related to the refusal to comply.

PREEMPTION

The requirements in this SD do not preempt any State, local, Tribal, or territorial rule, regulation,

order, or standard necessary to eliminate or reduce a local safety hazard, which includes public

health measures that are the same or more protective of public health than those required in this

SD, if that provision is not incompatible with this SD.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT

The airport operator must immediately provide written confirmation of receipt of this SD to the

Federal Security Director (FSD).

DISSEMINATION REQUIRED

The airport operator must immediately pass the information and measures set forth in this SD to

any personnel having responsibilities in implementing the provisions of this directive. The

airport operator may share this SD with anyone subject to the provisions of this directive to

include but not limited to: federal, state, and local government personnel; direct airport

employees or authorized representatives; vendors; tenants; exclusive area agreement holders;

contractors; transport personnel; taxi drivers; law enforcement; etc.

This is a narrow exception that includes a person with a disability who cannot wear a mask for reasons related to the

disability; who, e.g., do not understand how to remove their mask due to cognitive impairment, cannot remove a mask

on their own due to dexterity/mobility impairments, or cannot communicate promptly to ask someone else to remove

their mask due to speech impairments or language disorders, or cannot wear a mask because doing so would impede

the function of assistive devises/technology. It is not meant to cover persons for whom mask-wearing may only be

difficult. The CDC issued additional guidance on disability exemptions on March 23, 2021, which is available at

https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/masks/mask-travel-guidance.html.

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APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE MEASURES

The operator must immediately notify the FSD whenever any action required by this SD or a

TSA-approved alternative measure cannot be carried out. In accordance with 49 CFR

1542.303(d), the airport operator may submit proposed alternative measures and the basis for

submitting those measures in writing to the Assistant Administrator for Policy, Plans, and

Engagement through the FSD.

Thomas L. Bush

Acting Executive Assistant Administrator

Operations Support

THOMAS L

BUSH

Digitally signed by

THOMAS L BUSH

Date: 2021.12.17

12:13:02 -05'00'