Trump grants federal workers Christmas Eve and day after Christmas off
Federal workers will be able to spend Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas with their families this year without using personal leave, thanks to an executive order signed Dec. 18 by President Donald Trump.
Federal workers will be able to spend Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas with their families this year without using personal leave, thanks to an executive order signed Dec. 18 by President Donald Trump.
BREAKING: President Trump signs executive order making Christmas Eve and December 26th OFFICIAL federal holidays:
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 18, 2025
“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
All executive departments and… pic.twitter.com/UavlTxcFvT
With Christmas Day falling on a Thursday, the order grants paid administrative leave on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 26, in addition to the official federal holiday on Dec. 25.
The order allows agency heads to require certain employees to remain on duty for reasons of “national security, defense, or other public need.”
Presidents have the authority to grant administrative leave and often provide extra time off around Christmas, particularly on Christmas Eve. Trump granted federal workers Christmas Eve off in 2019 and 2020 during his first term, Axios reported. Granting employees both Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 off is less common.
The order does not establish permanent federal holidays, which would require congressional approval and applies only to this year.
