Two New Federal Holidays Officially Announced During Christmas Season

The Christmas season is always a time of excitement, and it sounds like the season is going to get a bit more exciting for some people as a new announcement could mean an extended holiday break for some lucky workers.

While Christmas Day has long been a federal holiday, a recent announcement has made both Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 federal holidays, as well.

Two New Federal Holidays

Christmas Day has been a federal holiday since 1870, when then-President Ulysses S. Grant signed a bill making it a paid holiday for federal employees in the District of Columbia, alongside New Year's Day, Independence Day, and Thanksgiving, to promote national unity after the Civil War.

This year, two more days will be added to that list.

Last week, United States President Donald Trump issued an executive order designating both Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 as federal holidays.

Given that Christmas falls on a Thursday this year, this means that some workers will now get a break beginning on Wednesday, Dec. 24, all the way until they have to return to work on Monday, Dec. 29.

But There's a Catch

This is obviously some welcome news for people across the country, but there is a catch.

For starters, the announcement is not permanent. To designate a day as a federal holiday in perpetuity, legislation must pass through Congress and be signed into law by the president. That last occurred back in 2021 when Juneteenth was added under the Joe Biden administration.

Additionally, Trump's order does not mean that most Americans will get Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 off.

While many employers and businesses across the country follow the federal holiday schedule when giving workers paid time off, it's unlikely that many of these businesses have accounted for it on their calendar since Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 have not been added to the federal schedule permanently and were added as a last-minute addition.

Who Gets Off Work? What's Closed?

According to the order, only federal agencies will be closed on those days, and even some federal employees may still have to report to work, at the discretion of agency leaders. Private businesses can decide to give their employees time off, but they are not required to by law.

In fact, many federal agencies that people typically interact with will remain open. While some federal government offices may close, locations like the post office will remain open.

U.S. Postal Service post offices will be closed, and mail will not be delivered on Christmas Day. However, post offices will be open on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, and mail will be delivered on those days.