In a statement, Villanueva said forcing those who are vaccinated or who have contracted COVID-19 to wears masks indoors "is not backed by science and contradicts the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines." "The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (DPH) has authority to enforce the order, but the underfunded/defunded Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department will not expend our limited resources and instead ask for voluntary compliance," he said. "We encourage the DPH to work collaboratively with the Board of Supervisors and law enforcement to establish mandates that are both achievable and supported by science." Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathy Barger also voiced her opposition to the order.