POTUS declares TWO new federal holidays
President Donald Trump on Thursday declared that two major holidays in America will give federal employees the chance to enjoy some vacation time
by Summer Lane | December 19, 2025
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday designating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day as federal holidays, allowing most government employees to enjoy a two-day vacation ahead of this year’s upcoming holiday.
“All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the day before and the day following Christmas Day, respectively,” the EO reads.
The order also noted that Christmas Eve and Christmas Day should be treated as any other paid federal holiday. Some agencies and departments may remain partially open for reasons of national security, defense, and safety.
The history of federal holidays in America is multifaceted. According to Congress, there are 12 permanent federal holidays in the U.S., including dates such as New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day.
Federal holidays become permanent when they are enacted into law by Congress. A presidential executive order has sway only over federal workers, and it could be reversed by the next administration.
Currently, the U.S. federal government employs about 3 million people. When Congress first implemented a federal holiday in 1870, there were just over 50,000 federal workers total, with 5,300 of them residing in Washington, D.C.
The history of presidents granting holiday leave for federal workers goes back decades, as various presidents have granted half days or full days off for Christmas Eve as well as Christmas Day.
Of all presidents who have granted Christmas Eve and Christmas Day breaks for federal employees, President Donald Trump has perhaps been the most generous. In 2018, 2019, and 2020, he also allowed federal employees to take Christmas Eve off.
Photo: Adobe Stock
