With Christmas on a Thursday this year, federal workers will get a long weekend.
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday closing the federal government on Dec. 24 and 26.
All federal departments and agencies will be closed the day before and after Christmas, and federal employees will have the day off, states the executive order.
The leaders of departments and agencies are allowed to deem certain parts of their organizations as open and that certain employees must report on any of those dates “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need,” according to the order.
The Office of Personnel Management will enforce the order.
The executive order does not hinder or prevent “the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.”
Christmas Day is already a federal holiday.
Trump gave federal workers the day off on Christmas Eve in 2019 and 2020.
In 2014, the last time Christmas fell on a Thursday, President Barack Obama gave federal workers the 26th off.
This year has been a big and rough year for the federal workforce as it has dealt with job cuts recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency in addition to a 43-day government shutdown, leaving many government workers going to food pantries and seeking other assistance.
On Juneteenth, which commemorates when the final slaves were freed, Trump said there are too many federal holidays.
“Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our country billions of dollars to keep all these businesses closed. The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to Make America Great Again!” he posted on Truth Social.
Federal workers are entitled to 11 holidays each year.
