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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, issued an executive order this Thursday declaring December 24 and 26 as federal holidays across the country, thereby extending the traditional Christmas break for public employees.
With the measure, federal agencies will remain closed from Wednesday, December 24, to Friday, December 26, as December 25 (Christmas) is already officially recognized as a national holiday.
However, the document signed by the leader clarifies that agency heads will be able to determine which offices or facilities should remain open, and which employees are required to report to work on those dates.
“Some essential services must remain active, but most federal employees will be able to enjoy a well-deserved break with family during Christmas,” Trump stated in the announcement released by the White House.
During his first term, the president had already designated Christmas Eve as a federal holiday in 2019 and 2020.
In 2014, then-President Barack Obama did the same with December 26, which fell on a Friday that year.
In May, Trump also declared national holidays on May 8 and 11 to commemorate the Allied victories in World War II and World War I, respectively.
Although November 11 is already celebrated as Veterans Day, the White House clarified that the proclamation had an additional commemorative character, without changing the official name of the date.
With the two new holidays, the year 2025 will have 13 federal holidays, including New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day (and Presidential Inauguration Day), Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, and December 26.
To convert a temporary holiday into a permanent one, Congress must approve the relevant legislation, and the president must sign it.
The last official holiday added to the calendar was Juneteenth in 2021, during Joe Biden's administration.
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