The Transportation Security Administration acted within its authority when it required travelers to wear masks at airports and commercial aircraft, according to a ruling Monday by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court heard an appeal brought by California attorney Jonathan Corbett, who argued that the TSA did not have the authority to issue security derivatives. In his filing, Corbett stated, "TSA has meandered past the boundaries of its enabling act with its mask mandate and the Court of Appeals has green-lit this detour when this Court has clearly signaled yellow, if not red."

The case follows a December ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Mask mandates allow TSA to continue efforts to maintain safety and security, especially in emergency situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the court.

"Because we find no merit in Corbett's claim, we deny the petition for review," the Court wrote. "The Covid-19 global pandemic poses one of the greatest threats to the operational viability of the transportation system and the lives of those on it seen in decades."

The issue of mandating masks and other safety precautions has caused a rift between government officials and the private sector. In March, the CEOs of several U.S. airlines and cargo carriers requested that President Joe Biden end the transportation mask mandate as well as pre-departure testing requirements.

A separate ruling by a federal judge in Florida overturned the CDC's mask mandate in April. The CDC still recommends that passengers wear masks when traveling indoors.

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