Trump grants federal workers rare five-day holiday break around Christmas.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday granting most federal employees two additional days off around Christmas.
Under the order, federal workers will be off on both Dec. 24 and Dec. 26. Combined with Christmas Day and the weekend, many employees will receive a five-day holiday break.
“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 order states, referring to the days immediately before and after Christmas.
It is unusual for federal workers to receive both days off. While presidents often grant either Christmas Eve or the day after Christmas, offering both is far less common.
The order allows agency heads to keep certain offices open if necessary for “national security, defense, or other urgent public need.” It also specifies that the two days off will be treated like federal holidays for pay and leave purposes.
