President Donald Trump declared Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 to be federal holidays this year.
This means that the 24th and 26th are work holidays for all federal departments and agencies. However, per the executive order, some agencies will remain open. Certain offices may stay open on one or both days for “national security, defense, or other public need,” the order reads.
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.
The move follows Trump’s earlier criticism of Juneteenth, a federal holiday added by his predecessor Joe Biden in 2021, which commemorates the day in 1865 when the last enslaved Americans were freed.
Trump chose June 19 to state that there were “too many non-working holidays in America.”
“It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year.”
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.
Will I receive mail on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26?
The U.S. Postal Service will deliver mail and post office locations will remain open on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26, according to its website. Mail will not be delivered and locations will be closed on Christmas.