Unraveling the politics-science nexus: diverse strategies in US states’ termination of mask policies

This study investigates the intentional termination decision of a public health tool (i.e. face-mask policy) in the absence of knowledge regarding the duration of the pandemic. We acknowledge that policy termination is a complicated decision-making process that necessitates multiple considerations. Gleaning perspectives from the literature on the politics-science divide and policy termination theory, two distinct sets of factors emerge as influential: political considerations (i.e. governor’s ideology and public opinion) and scientific considerations (i.e. vaccination rate and healthcare resources). We conduct a fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis to examine how explanatory factors interplay in diverse ways in shaping mask termination decisions. The results show three equally important pathways in elucidating mask termination decisions: two pathways explained how Republican and Democratic Governors draw upon diverse considerations to end the mask use, respectively. The third path underscores that a level high vaccination rate would explain most states’ mask termination decisions. The results highlight the complexity inherent policy-making during a public health crisis. This study offers a glimpse into the varied approaches adopted by states to navigate the exit from the pandemic. In the broader context of public administration, this study sheds light on how states bridge the gap between politics and science.