The Justice Department filed a brief in the federal appeals court to overturn the judge's decision. After the federal mask mandate was overturned, a sign in the airport's terminal states that masks are required.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

The Justice Department asked a federal appeals court to overturn a court decision that declared the mandate requiring masks on airplanes and other public transportationunconstitutional.

In a document filed in the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Justice Department argues that the order issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention falls within their authority.

The Justice Department said last month that it would appeal the judge's decision to strike down the CDC's mask mandate for public transportation.

The Justice Department said in the brief that the district court's quarrels with the CDC order came close to showing that the CDC has acted outside of reasonableness.

There was good cause to make the order effective without delay, according to the findings in the CDC order.

The CDC didn't respond immediately to questions about the issue.

This is not a finished story.