President Donald Trump has officially designated Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas as federal holidays for the year 2025, following the signing of an executive order last week. This year’s Christmas falls on a Thursday, which means that December 24 and December 26 will land on traditional workdays.
Christmas Day was established as a federal holiday in 1870 under President Ulysses S. Grant, who signed legislation that initially applied only to federal employees in Washington D.C. Over time, more holidays were added, including Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983, and currently, there are a total of 11 recognized federal holidays.
Trump’s recent executive order grants federal employees the days off in 2025; however, this action is limited to that year. To extend this designation beyond 2025, a law needs to be passed by Congress or a similar executive order issued. Trump has a history of designating federal holidays, having previously understood the significance of the day after Christmas when he recognized it back in 2014 and established Christmas Eve as a federal holiday in both 2019 and 2020.
As a result of the holiday designation, all federal offices, including those in Connecticut and other states, will be closed on December 24 and December 26. Nevertheless, agency leaders have the discretion to keep certain offices open for national security and public needs.
While the U.S. Postal Service will still deliver mail on these days, post offices will not be open on Christmas Day itself. In contrast, state employees, municipal workers, and bank staff will still be expected to work on these days, as there is no federal mandate for private companies to grant time off during federal holidays.
Despite the limited scope of this executive order, the addition of these holidays provides an opportunity for federal workers to enjoy a longer holiday season, which many may view as a positive change, promoting family gatherings and holiday celebrations.