President Donald Trump has signed an executive order adding two federal holidays to the calendar, extending the Christmas holiday period for federal employees. Announced this week, the order will see both Christmas Eve, December 24, and December 26 as official time off for most federal workers, creating a five-day weekend in 2025, with Christmas Day falling on a Thursday.
The executive action will result in the closure of all executive departments and agencies of the federal government on the newly designated holidays, with exceptions for critical services such as national security, defense, and other essential operations. Agency heads retain the authority to require specific offices or employees to work through the holiday period if necessary. Professionals in law enforcement, healthcare, and emergency services, among others, might be called upon to fulfill their duties.
The executive order, emanating from the powers vested in the President by the U.S. Constitution and federal laws, states, "it is hereby ordered, 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." This decision, according to the White House, is aimed at boosting morale during the festive season.
While this move by President Trump is not without precedent, it expands on the usual holiday observances in Washington, D.C. During his first term, President Trump granted federal workers Christmas Eve off in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Notably, in 2020 when Christmas Eve also fell on a Thursday, he provided a full day off. Similarly, in 2014, under the Obama administration, federal employees were given December 26 off when Christmas last occurred on a Thursday.
The President's authority to declare such holidays comes without the need for congressional approval, as it pertains solely to the executive branch and is restricted to a particular year.
In addition to the new holidays, President Trump recently announced a Christmas bonus for U.S. service members. In a primetime address, he revealed that military personnel would receive a tax-free "warrior dividend" of $1,776 as a Christmas gesture. War Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that the distribution of this bonus is underway and tax-free, affecting over 1.45 million service members. Hegseth praised the move, saying, "I can think of no better Americans to receive this check right before Christmas, whether it’s for pay, housing, base support, or other needs."
These initiatives come as part of a wider effort to bolster morale and reward public servants, also tying into the administration's strong emphasis on the Christmas holiday. As the news broke, social media reactions were swift, with Benny Johnson tweeting about the executive order and calling attention to the President's use of his constitutional authority in this festive directive.
