Buttigieg discussed the new public transit mask mandate with officials from Amtrak, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, the Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway.
"As you know, health and safety is the Biden and Harris administration's number one priority, and therefore also the number one priority of the department of transportation," Buttigieg said.
"The science is very clear," he said. "Face coverings stop the spread of virus transmission and science-based measures are essential to preventing and defeating COVID-19."
11 photos
1/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg greets a Metro employee at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
2/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg visits Amtrak employees at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
3/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks to Amtrak employees during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
4/11
Alex Wong/Getty Images
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks to Amtrak employees during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
5/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg put no a mask after he spoke to Amtrak employees during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
6/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg speaks to Amtrak employees during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
7/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg greets an Amtrak employee during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
8/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg greets an Amtrak employee during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
9/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg greets an Amtrak employee during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
10/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg greets an Amtrak employee during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
11/11
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 05: U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg greets an Amtrak employee during a visit at Union Station February 5, 2021 in Washington, DC. Secretary Buttigieg placed visit to front line rail workers as well as officials from Amtrak, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, Maryland Transit Administration and the Virginia Railway Express to discuss the mask requirements and the administration’s support for additional COVID-19 relief funding for public transportation. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
