YANKTON, S.D.(WNAX)- A federal judge decided that the Centers for Disease Control exceeded their authority with a face mask mandate on public transportation. That led to most airlines making facemask usage optional.

South Dakota Senator John Thune says its time to move in this direction.

Thune says the CDC changed direction many times during the pandemic.

Thune says Congress should be involved in public health decisions in the future.

The facemask mandates had been in place since early 2020.