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| Donald Trump & Melania Trump together at the White House |
US President Donald J. Trump Signs Executive Order Granting Federal Employees Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 Off in 2025
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order excusing most federal employees from work on Christmas Eve (December 24, 2025) and the day after Christmas (December 26, 2025), effectively creating an extended four-day holiday break around Christmas for many government workers.
The order directs all executive departments and federal agencies to close on those two dates, bookending the already established Christmas Day holiday on December 25. As a result, many federal employees will receive a continuous break spanning December 24 through December 26, with the possibility of an even longer weekend depending on individual schedules.
While some media outlets have described the move as creating new “federal holidays,” the White House clarified that the order applies only to 2025 and does not permanently add Christmas Eve or December 26 to the federal holiday calendar. Instead, it is a one-time administrative closure for the upcoming holiday season.
The decision comes amid broader efforts to boost morale within the federal workforce following a prolonged government shutdown earlier this year. Trump previously took similar action during his first term, granting Christmas Eve off to federal employees in 2018, 2019, and 2020. President Joe Biden also authorized Christmas Eve as a day off for federal workers in 2024.
The executive order applies solely to federal government employees. Private-sector workers are not required to receive these days off, unless their employers independently choose to follow the federal government’s schedule.
The move has been welcomed by federal employee groups as a goodwill gesture ahead of the holidays, though it remains limited in scope and duration.
FAQs
Q1. Did President Trump make Christmas Eve and December 26 permanent federal holidays?
No. The executive order applies only to the year 2025 and does not permanently add these dates to the federal holiday calendar.
Q2. Who is eligible for the Christmas Eve and December 26 days off?
The order applies to most federal employees working in executive departments and federal agencies. Essential personnel may still be required to work.
Q3. Will private sector employees also get these days off?
No. Private sector employers are not legally required to observe these days off unless they choose to do so voluntarily.
Q4. How long is the holiday break for federal employees?
For many federal workers, the order creates a four-day break around Christmas, depending on work schedules and weekends.
Q5. Has President Trump done this before?
Yes. During his first term, President Trump granted Christmas Eve off for federal workers in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Q6. Did President Biden grant Christmas Eve off to federal employees?
Yes. President Biden authorized Christmas Eve as a day off in 2024 for federal workers.
Q7. Why was this executive order issued?
The order is seen as a morale-boosting measure for federal employees, particularly following a prolonged government shutdown earlier in the year.

WHY SHOULD THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES GET THE 24&26 OFF WHEN THE WORKING PEOPLE DON'T
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