Sen. Ted Cruz is once again facing backlash - this time for refusing to wear a face mask while on the job.

Last week, the Texas senator announced that he will no longer wear a mask while in the U.S. Capitol or when on the Senate floor. In an interview with CNN, he said his decision was due to everybody in the Senate having already received their COVID-19 vaccinations. He also quoted the Centers for Disease Control, which recently said small groups of vaccinated people can gather without masks.

Reports, however, indicate that a considerable number of senators, their aides, and journalists covering them have not yet been vaccinated. Oh, and the CDC website says that fully vaccinated people can meet without a mask in homes or private settings, but nothing about doing so in a large government office building.

Unlike in the House, lawmakers in the Senate are not required to wear masks. So far, Cruz joins Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ron Johnson of Washington, both Republican senators who have not been vaccinated, in not masking up. Half of the Senate is over the age of 65, which is considered one of the most vulnerable populations.

Cruzs announcement comes about a month after confronting a reporter who asked him to wear a mask during a press conference.

When I'm talking in front of the TV cameras I'm not going to wear a mask," Cruz told the reporter, adding that he and his colleagues had been vaccinated already. When the reporter again asked for Cruz to put on a mask, the senator told the reporter they could leave instead.

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Ted Cruz says hes done with wearing a mask at the U.S. Capitol - mySA