Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) snapped a selfie with a few other maskless members and posted it to social media. Taking pictures on the House floor is against longstanding rules due to security concerns.
At one point, Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) came over and confronted the rebellious crew and asked them to be more respectful of other members and staff.
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), who was standing nearby, could also be heard shouting to another member in jest: I can’t “hear” you with your mask on. Massie was one of the lawmakers who helped organize the protest, sources said.
Earlier in the day, Rep. Brian Mast of Florida stood up during a GOP conference and told his colleagues that he’s “done” wearing masks and will refuse to wear them on the House floor going forward, even if it means being fined, according to multiple sources in the room.
Other members who ended up joining the maskless protest include Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Chip Roy of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Beth Van Duyne of Texas, Louie Gohmert of Texas and Mary Miller of Illinois.
Mast, who has been vaccinated, confirmed his closed-door comments to POLITICO and added that other Republicans have said they will follow suit, teeing up a showdown with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leadership.
Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy informed the conference he plans to introduce a privileged motion on the topic Wednesday, though language is still being worked out, sources said.
And Rep. Bruce Westerman of Arkansas and top House Republicans — including McCarthy and committee ranking members — pressed Pelosi in a new letter on Tuesday to ease proxy voting measures and to lift mask mandates in light of the new CDC guidelines released last week, which loosened rules for vaccinated individuals.
“It is time we follow the science, lead by example, and fully return to work to serve the American people,” the letter states.
Tensions are near a boiling point between the two parties over pandemic-era protocols, which have been a point of contention for more than a year. Republicans are furious that mask mandates are still in place for both the House floor and committee meeting spaces, despite CDC guidance. Pelosi has also extended proxy voting until July, which has been another source of frustration in the GOP.
Meanwhile, across the Capitol, there are no requirements for members to wear masks on the Senate floor.
“None of us want to be fined, but if we’re vaccinated and CDC guidance says resume normal behavior then let’s do it,” Mast said.
But Pelosi and Democrats have said lawmakers could resume normal life more quickly if more of their Republican colleagues got vaccinated. Democrats say they feel uncomfortable being in closed-door settings without facial coverings until they know more GOP lawmakers have gotten the shot.
Roughly 75 percent of the House has been vaccinated, according to estimates from the Capitol physician that McCarthy has cited. All 219 Democrats reported to CNN that they’re vaccinated, but only 95 out of 212 Republicans reported being vaccinated, while 112 did not respond to the survey.
“CDC guidelines are also…
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