UNMASK Act

This bill would stop the federal government from making active-duty service members wear face masks while in uniform, unless the mask is part of needed safety gear for a specific job. The Secretary of Defense could still require masks when they are standard protective equipment for certain duties, like for safety or operational reasons.

The bill says that since the global COVID-19 emergency ended and vaccines and treatments are widely available, universal mask rules are no longer justified for the military. It also argues that masks, when not required for safety, can hurt morale and the professional look of the uniform.

• Who is affected: Active-duty members of the Armed Forces.
• What changes: No federal mask mandate for service members, except when masks are needed as protective gear for certain tasks.
• Why now: The bill cites the end of the global COVID-19 emergency and a shift away from universal masking guidance.