President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday closing most federal offices on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, excusing federal employees from work on the days before and after Christmas.
The order allows agency heads to keep certain offices open and require essential staff to work on those days “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”
Christmas Day is a federal holiday. Presidents often give federal employees extra time off if the holiday falls toward the end or beginning of a week but sometimes are more generous. Former President Joe Biden last year gave workers an extra day off on Christmas Eve, even though it fell on a Tuesday. Trump during his first term gave federal workers Christmas Eve off in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
The two days will be treated as federal holidays for pay and leave under existing laws and the Office of Personnel Management was charged with implementing the directive, the order said.
