Trump Creates Two New Federal Holidays Around Christmas

[mystery-ak]

Trump Creates Two New Federal Holidays Around Christmas

Published 14 hours ago

on December 18, 2025

By Cullen McCue

In a move aimed at extending Christmas cheer for millions of federal employees, President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order designating Christmas Eve (December 24) and the day after Christmas (December 26) as days off for most government workers.

This decision effectively creates a five-day break surrounding Christmas Day, which falls on a Thursday this year, and is already a longstanding federal holiday.

The executive order specifies that all executive departments and agencies of the federal government shall be closed on both of the aforementioned days, though it does contain some exceptions. Agency heads may require certain offices or employees to remain operational for reasons of national security, defense, or other public needs. Essential personnel, such as those in law enforcement, healthcare, or emergency services, may still need to report to work as well.

“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. 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 order reads.

Trump’s action is not unprecedented but marks a generous extension compared to typical holiday practices.

Presidents have the authority to issue such executive orders to grant additional time off without needing congressional approval, as it applies only to the executive branch and is limited to a specific year. For instance, during his first term, President Trump granted federal employees Christmas Eve off in 2018, 2019, and 2020.

In 2020, when Christmas Eve fell on a Thursday — similar to this year’s configuration — he provided a full day off. Former President Barack Obama did something comparable in 2014, the last time Christmas landed on a Thursday, by giving workers December 26 off.

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https://trendingpoliticsnews.com/just-in-trump-creates-two-new-federal-holidays-around-christmas-cmc/

[Right_in_Virginia]

Most of the private sector is "closing early" Christmas Eve and is closed on Friday.   

[andy58-in-nh]

I worked in the private sector my whole life. We were always open the day after Christmas, and rarely closed early on Christmas Eve.

The last company I worked for - a corporate giant - was always open for business until midnight on Christmas, if you worked in a customer-facing role.

Government workers have no clue.

[cato potatoe]

Federal workers already have way more PTO, sick leave, and predictable working hours than the private sector. 

[libertybele]

Federal workers already have way more PTO, sick leave, and predictable working hours than the private sector.

I used to work for a marketing company in the private sector that closed the entire week of Christmas  to the day after New Year's with pay and a Christmas bonus.  My husband worked for a defense contractor and he got the same time off with pay and usually given a ham or turkey.

So, both were in the private sector.

I don't think Trump's days off is extraordinary.   It's giving people time to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. 

Thanks to Brandon's economy there are many company's striving to survive and they can't afford to give generous time off during Christmas season.

[Kamaji]

I used to work for a marketing company in the private sector that closed the entire week of Christmas  to the day after New Year's with pay and a Christmas bonus.  My husband worked for a defense contractor and he got the same time off with pay and usually given a ham or turkey.

So, both were in the private sector.

I don't think Trump's days off is extraordinary.   It's giving people time to enjoy Christmas with family and friends. 

Thanks to Brandon's economy there are many company's striving to survive and they can't afford to give generous time off during Christmas season.

That’s way more than the average person gets.  Way, way more.

[Polly Ticks]

That’s way more than the average person gets.  Way, way more.

I get Christmas Day and Jan 1st.  Any other days I want to take off I am required to have/use PTO.

[libertybele]

I get Christmas Day and Jan 1st.  Any other days I want to take off I am required to have/use PTO.

I realize that that time off was extremely generous and it was uncanny that both my husband and I got that time off. My point being both were in the private sector; not federal.

Usually time off on Christmas Day and New Year's is the norm.   We never worked for companies that were so generous after we moved and worked elsewhere.

[cato potatoe]

I realize that that time off was extremely generous and it was uncanny that both my husband and I got that time off. My point being both were in the private sector; not federal.

Usually time off on Christmas Day and New Year's is the norm.   We never worked for companies that were so generous after we moved and worked elsewhere.

My old CPA firm gave us Christmas week off, but it was a prelude to 3 months of heavy overtime.  Do the federal workers really need it?

His move is an odd one, given the carnage from earlier this year, and his derision for the nonworking juneteenth holiday costing billions of dollars.

[Polly Ticks]

I realize that that time off was extremely generous and it was uncanny that both my husband and I got that time off. My point being both were in the private sector; not federal.

Usually time off on Christmas Day and New Year's is the norm.   We never worked for companies that were so generous after we moved and worked elsewhere.

Yes, very generous. And you're right, it matters that this was in the private sector.  I don't have any issue at all with the private sector designating as many paid holidays as they would like. 

It is different when it is the federal government, though. Federal employees, whose salaries are paid from our tax dollars, already get  holidays that those of us in the private sector often do not get.  Meanwhile, our country is drowning in debt. In the real world, if you're drowning in debt you tighten the belt and/or work an extra job to make ends meet rather than taking a couple of extra days off.

[corbe]

  Nice little bonus considering most all just returned from a 6-week paid vacation.

[bigheadfred]

On the other hand it gives them less time to screw things up!

[GtHawk]

And how long will that take to filter down stream to non federal employees, will it be two more paid days off for state employees? Two more days of trash overflowing because the garbage men need to have the days off too? Sorry but I just don’t agree with the president, any president just being able to create new federal holidays on their own. Isn’t there some other branch of the government that is supposed to allocate funding for things like this, or is Trump going to pull the funding for this out of the tariff glory hole too?

Once again the underworked and overpaid, over benefitted federal employees effectively get a pay increase while the rest of us Schmucks get to bust our heinies and tighten our belts to pay for it. I know, all us non federal employees should just subtract two days of the average federal employee wage from our income tax bill….that seems fair.

[libertybele]

Yes, very generous. And you're right, it matters that this was in the private sector.  I don't have any issue at all with the private sector designating as many paid holidays as they would like. 

It is different when it is the federal government, though. Federal employees, whose salaries are paid from our tax dollars, already get  holidays that those of us in the private sector often do not get.  Meanwhile, our country is drowning in debt. In the real world, if you're drowning in debt you tighten the belt and/or work an extra job to make ends meet rather than taking a couple of extra days off.

Point made @Polly Ticks and I absolutely agree with you.

[Right_in_Virginia]

I worked in the private sector my whole life. We were always open the day after Christmas, and rarely closed early on Christmas Eve.

Closing early the day before a holiday is rather the norm in the DC area for the private sector.  Closing the day after Christmas is not.....except when Christmas falls on a Thursday.  The issue then becomes the cost of opening a largely empty business just for Friday --- it's the same with the Friday after Thanksgiving or July 4th falling on a Thursday.

If Christmas falls on a Monday - Wednesday, the businesses open the next day and the rest of the week.

[Fishrrman]

On the passenger trains (commuter and Amtrak), the train & engine personnel ALWAYS work the holidays, because of the extra pay. Christmas Eve/Christmas Day/New Year's Day -- each one pays 2.5x the rate of "a regular day" (time and one-half for working + 8 hours for the holiday itself)

Back in my freight days, it wasn't like that. The only guys who qualified for Holiday pay were yard and local job holders. If you got called to work on Christmas or New Years (or any other holiday), it was just a regular day's pay. Things may be different now -- my last freight job was in 1991.

[berdie]

I will confess, I didn't read the entire article...but does that include the post office and mail delivery? That could be really bad for businesses.

[Smokin Joe]

I worked in the private sector my whole life. We were always open the day after Christmas, and rarely closed early on Christmas Eve.

The last company I worked for - a corporate giant - was always open for business until midnight on Christmas, if you worked in a customer-facing role.

Government workers have no clue.

I work in the oil patch. What's a "holiday"?
24/7/365
Or the price of oil crashes and you have waaay too much time off.

[jmyrlefuller]

I work in the oil patch. What's a "holiday"?
24/7/365

It's what you take so you don't end up dead from overworking.