Trump Signs Executive Order Designating Christmas Eve and Day After Christmas as Federal Holidays

In a notable holiday season development, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating Christmas Eve (December 24) and the day after Christmas (December 26) as federal holidays for this year. Under the executive order, all executive departments and agencies of the US federal government will be closed and their employees excused from duty on December 24 and December 26 unless necessary to remain open for “national security, defence, or other public need.” While Christmas Day is already a standard federal holiday, the new order effectively creates a five-day break for many federal workers when combined with the weekend. The expanded holiday period is intended to give federal employees additional paid time off without requiring them to use annual or other leave balances. According to reporting on the executive order, eligible employees who are excused from duty on those days will continue to receive their regular pay as though they were working. The primary beneficiaries of the new holiday designation are executive branch federal workers. This includes staff at most federal agencies who are covered by the holiday and premium pay provisions outlined in federal law, according to the US Office of Personnel Management. Essential Workers: Some employees, such as those in national security, law enforcement, or essential public safety roles, may still be required to work on those days and are entitled to premium pay if they do so. The holiday designation does not automatically apply to private-sector employees, state or local government workers, or contract workers. Employers outside the federal government may choose to recognize the dates as paid holidays at their discretion, Fox News reported. Major US financial markets, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, will remain open on December 26 despite the federal holiday designation, as the executive order does not extend to private sector or independent entities, Reuters reported. It’s important to note that while the executive order officially treats December 24 and December 26 as federal holidays for 2025, such one-time holiday designations do not automatically become permanent federal holidays under American law. Only Congress can establish permanent federal holidays through legislation.