Gregory Wayne Abbott (born November 13, 1957) is an American attorney who has served as the 48th governor of Texas since January 20, 2015. A member of the Republican Party, Abbott previously served as the 50th attorney general of Texas from 2002 to 2015. He is the third governor of any U.S. state to permanently use a wheelchair. He is also the first disabled governor in Texas history.
Officials with the Texas Education Agency announced Thursday night (Aug. 19) that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s ban on mask mandates has been dropped — for now.
The announcement came via a public health guidance letter explaining that enforcement was being halted due to ongoing court challenges, the Associated Press reports.
The new guidance “takes effect immediately, replacing all prior guidance,” the letter notes. The new guidance comes after the Texas Supreme Court on Thursday denied a request from Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to overturn temporary restraining orders in at least two pending challenges to Abbott’s executive order, issued last May, prohibiting local authorities, including school districts, from issuing mask