Trump administration reportedly mulling end to European travel ban

The Trump administration is considering ending a ban on travelers from 26 European countries as well as Brazil, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration set in place the European travel ban in March as the coronavirus pandemic spread and followed up with a ban on travelers coming from Brazil in May. Earlier bans on travel from China and Iran are not under consideration for lifting, Reuters noted.

Support for lifting the European travel ban has reportedly come from the White House coronavirus task force and other federal agencies, but President Trump has not yet made a final decision. Many Trump administration officials have argued that travel should resume in order to help aid U.S. airlines and noted that travelers from most countries around the world are not currently prevented from entering into the U.S., Reuters reported.

A group that represents American Airlines, United Airlines Holdings, Delta Air Lines and other air travel companies called Airlines for America has been an advocate for travel bans to be lifted, the news service noted, adding that they have also called for the government to “set a national standard on testing in order to lift travel restrictions.” 

The U.S. Department of Transportation is reportedly on board with the return of international travel as well.

“[T]he department stands ready to support the safe resumption of international flights to and from the U.S,” a spokesperson told Reuters. “Conversations are ongoing between the federal government, international partners, and industry stakeholders on these matters.”

Coronavirus cases in Europe continue to increase and several countries have recently implemented lockdown restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.