Extra Days Off for Federal Workers
President Trump, known for his criticism of excessive federal holidays, has decided to grant federal workers additional time off next week in celebration of the Christmas holiday.
The president’s gesture includes giving employees two extra days off on December 24 and December 26. An executive order was signed to formalize this decision, allowing federal employees to enjoy a longer holiday break.
According to the order, all executive departments and agencies will be closed on Wednesday, December 24, and Friday, December 26. These dates are designated as holidays surrounding Christmas Day, which is already recognized as a federal holiday on December 25.
The order specifies that some agencies may need to remain operational on these dates. Certain federal employees whose roles pertain to national security or other essential public services may still be required to work during this period.
While presidents are not obligated to provide additional time off during the holidays, many have chosen to do so in recent years. For instance, President Biden granted federal workers leave on Christmas Eve in 2024. During Trump’s first term, he also provided time off on Christmas Eve in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
This year marks a notable instance where federal employees are receiving two days off around the holidays. In contrast, President Obama offered a day off on December 26 in 2014 but did not include Christmas Eve as a holiday.
It is somewhat unexpected that Trump would allow extra days off given his previous statements about the economic impact of numerous federal holidays. He has expressed concerns that such days result in significant financial losses due to business closures.
“Too many non-working holidays in America,” Trump remarked earlier this year regarding Juneteenth. “It is costing our country billions of dollars.”
