Feds Drop Appeal of Florida's Lawsuit Challenging CDC Rules

No reason given by the Federal Government for requesting dismissal.

One year after the pandemic began, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis could no longer hide his dissatisfaction with how the CDC kept the cruise industry shut down with restrictions. For that reason, Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, filed a lawsuit challenging the limits and precisely the Conditional Sail Order that all cruise lines felt had requirements that were not workable.

U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday agreed with the state’s arguments and issued a preliminary injunction against the restrictions. U.S. Department of Justice attorneys, representing the CDC, appealed Merryday’s ruling to the Atlanta-based appellate court, where it has remained pending.

This past Tuesday, the U.S. attorneys filed a motion for dismissal at the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. attorneys gave no reason, but since the Conditional Sail Order expired this past January 15th and the CDC has adopted a voluntary program that would seem to be the reason.