Some federal workers will have a longer holiday break this year. In an executive order issued Thursday, President Trump declared that Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 will be federal holidays this year, meaning that federal departments and agencies will be closed.
As noted in the order, agencies may require certain employees to work on those dates if necessary for national security or other public needs. The order also does not change any existing laws. To establish a permanent federal holiday — which Christmas already is — Congress must pass legislation and then have the president sign it into law.
Why are Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 federal holidays this year?
It’s common for presidents to declare Christmas Eve a federal holiday, depending on where it falls on the weekly calendar, in order to extend the holiday break. President Trump did so during his first term in 2018, 2019 and 2020, and former President Joe Biden did so in 2024.
In 2021, Christmas fell on a Saturday, making Christmas Eve a federally observed holiday on a Friday, and in 2022, Christmas fell on a Sunday, meaning that Dec. 26 became the federally observed holiday, with Dec. 24 and 25 falling over the weekend. In 2023, Christmas was on a Monday, meaning that Christmas Eve was on a weekend.
This year marks the first time that Trump has ordered Dec. 26 to be a federal holiday.
Will I have off on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 now?
If you’re a federal worker, and your job is not deemed necessary to work on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26, then yes, you will have off. However, these temporary federal holidays do not impact private companies — it’s at their discretion if they wish to give their employees the day off. If you did not already have these dates off as a private employee, this order likely won’t impact your work schedule.
What other federal holidays are there?
According to the Office of Personnel Management, the federal holidays in 2026 include:
Jan. 1: New Year’s Day
Jan. 19: Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday
Feb. 16: George Washington’s birthday
May 25: Memorial Day
June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
July 3: Independence Day
Sept. 7: Labor Day
Oct. 12: Columbus Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
Nov. 26: Thanksgiving Day
Dec. 25: Christmas Day
LATEST POSTS
- 1
Very good quality Greens All over The Planet - 2Amid growing bipartisan scrutiny of Pete Hegseth, Trump says he 'wouldn't have wanted … a second strike' on alleged Venezuelan drug boat survivors
- 3Tracking down the Right Equilibrium: Charges versus Personal Costs in Senior Protection.
- 4Monetary Security: Building Serious areas of strength for an Establishment
- 5Careful Nurturing: Techniques for Bringing up Tough Children
- Most loved Web-based feature: Which Stage Do You Like
- 5 Chiefs That Changed Our Opinion on Film
- 7 Fun Plans to Make Film Evenings Seriously Energizing (You'll Cherish #5!)
- Kissing is an ‘evolutionary conundrum.’ Scientists just mapped its unexpected origins
- 10 Fundamental Tips and Deceives to Lift Your Cell phone's Exhibition
- An Aide On Upgrading Your FICO rating
- Satellites capture aftermath of Ethiopian volcano's 1st eruption in recorded history (images)
- Find the Wonders of the Silk Street: Following the Antiquated Shipping lanes
- Most loved VR Game for Wellness: Which Keeps You Dynamic?
