Trump Names Two New National Holidays. Will you remove yourself?
Vacation breaks are getting a little longer – at least for some workers.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week, making Christmas Eve (Dec. 24) and the day after Christmas (Dec. 26) federal holidays. The additional PTO only applies this year, however, and affects the organization’s employees the most. As Christmas Day is on Thursday and has already been designated as a national holiday, most civil servants will have a two-day working week, with offices closed from Wednesday to Friday.
Temporary holiday closures like this are not unusual. Trump issued similar orders during his first term in 2018, 2019 and 2020, declaring Christmas Eve a federal holiday. Former President Barack Obama did the same in 2012 and 2014.
Still, the move doesn’t permanently expand the organization’s vacation calendar. Making Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas a public, recurring holiday would require an act of Congress. The last federal holiday to be enshrined in law was Juneteenth in 2021 under the Biden administration. The move marked June 19 – the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the US – as the 12th state holiday and the first addition since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983.
Should employers give employees leave on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26?
Not to be a Scrooge, but extra days won’t work for everyone. In fact, the work calendar this week will remain unchanged for most workers.
This is because the executive order only applies to government agencies. Some federal employees may still be required to work those days at the discretion of agency leadership, according to the executive order.
Private businesses are not required by law to give employees time off or pay a higher ‘holiday rate’ on Dec. 24 or Dec. 26. Although your company may choose to do so, the short notice between the announcement and the holidays makes it impossible for many to do so.
Will the banks and post office be open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26?
Yes – for the most part.
US Postal Service post offices will open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, and mail will be delivered on both of those days, according to the agency’s holiday schedule. USPS will be closed on Christmas Day.
Banks will also be closed on Christmas Day but will be open as usual on December 24 and 26, according to the Federal Reserve.
Are there independent retailers that will be closed on Christmas Eve or Dec. 26?
Private businesses are not required to follow the federal holiday schedule, so store hours will vary by retailer and location. Many major chains across the US close early on Christmas Eve, though shoppers should check local stores for holiday hours before heading out.
Here’s how a few national retailers are working around Christmas:
- Walmart: Open December 24 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Christmas day; reopens at 6am December 26.
- Target: Opens December 24 from 7 am to 8 pm; closed Christmas day; reopens at 7am December 26.
- Costco: Open December 24 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; closed Christmas day; reopens at 10 a.m. on Dec. 26.
Most Walgreens and CVS stores will remain open with regular hours on Christmas Day, although hours may vary by location.
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