White House says it’s not looking to require COVID-19 tests before domestic flights

The White House says it’s not currently looking to require passengers to get COVID-19 tests before domestic flights.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed the issue during a news conference on Friday when she was asked if the subject came up during a meeting between airline executives and White House coronavirus response coordinator Jen Zients.

“Well that would be done through … a policy process internally,” Psaki said. “But, as I conveyed yesterday, reports that there is an intention to put in place new requirements, such as testing, are not accurate.”

The comment comes after Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in an interview with “Axios on HBO” that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) was in “an active conversation” on whether to implement testing before domestic flights.

The agency has already required those traveling on international flights to the U.S. to test negative.

A CDC spokeswoman told Reuters late Friday “at this time, CDC is not recommending required point of departure testing for domestic travel,” adding that the agency “will continue to review public health options for containing and mitigating spread of COVID-19 in the travel space.”

The Hill has reached out to the CDC for comment

The airline industry — which has taken a massive hit due to the coronavirus pandemic — has previously pushed back on mandatory coronavirus testing for domestic flights, citing logistical challenges.