President Trump adds Christmas Eve and December 26 to the federal holidays 2025 calendar via executive order, creating a rare four-day holiday stretch around Christmas for federal workers. This unusual move delivers an early gift amid economic headwinds, extending time off beyond traditional norms.
Federal Holidays 2025: New Additions Confirmed
The federal holidays 2025 list now includes two surprise days: December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 26 (day after Christmas). With Christmas falling on Thursday, this creates a Thursday-Sunday long weekend—potentially Friday off too via past precedent. Trump previously granted Christmas Eve off in 2019-2020; adding both is unprecedented for a single year.
Federal employees gain paid time off, setting a private-sector benchmark. Congress typically sets permanent holidays (like Biden’s Juneteenth addition); presidents occasionally declare one-offs. Trump’s summer Truth Social post griped about “too many” U.S. holidays compared to Europe/Asia—ironic timing for this expansion.
"We're gonna say 'merry Christmas' again!" has been a rallying call by President Donald Trump for many years, and the observance of the holiday is getting a little sweeter for federal employees. In an executive order signed by Trump on Thursday, Dec. 18, Christmas Eve and the day… pic.twitter.com/w2DPWEvB2M
— Country Rebel (@countryrebel) December 19, 2025
Complete Federal Holidays 2025 Calendar
| Date | Holiday | Day of Week |
| Jan 1 | New Year’s Day | Wednesday |
| Jan 20 | MLK Day | Monday |
| Feb 17 | Presidents’ Day | Monday |
| May 26 | Memorial Day | Monday |
| Jun 19 | Juneteenth | Thursday |
| Jul 4 | Independence Day | Friday |
| Sep 1 | Labor Day | Monday |
| Oct 13 | Columbus Day | Monday |
| Nov 11 | Veterans Day | Tuesday |
| Nov 27 | Thanksgiving | Thursday |
| Dec 24 | Christmas Eve (NEW) | Wednesday |
| Dec 25 | Christmas Day | Thursday |
| Dec 26 | Day After Christmas (NEW) | Friday |
Note: When holidays fall midweek, agencies often grant adjacent days off, amplifying federal holidays 2025 impact.
Why Trump Expanded Federal Holidays 2025
This federal holidays 2025 boost counters economic discontent. Trump pairs it with crowd-pleasers: Schedule III cannabis reclassification executive order, $1,776 military bonuses, and tariff rebate checks. Christmas on Thursday (last under Obama) historically yields Friday off—Trump’s additions guarantee the extended break.
Private employers often mirror federal holidays 2025 for competitiveness. Juneteenth’s 2021 law spread rapidly; expect similar for these one-offs if normalized.
Federal Holidays 2025 Impact on Workers
Federal Employees: Automatic paid leave; no PTO burn.
Private Sector: Benchmark pressure—many match top 11 + these extras.
Economy: Short-term GDP dip from absences, long-term morale boost.
Travel: Holiday clustering spikes Dec 24-28 air/hotel demand.
Trump’s move flips his “too many holidays” stance, prioritizing worker goodwill amid tariff/economy scrutiny.
Planning Around Federal Holidays 2025
- Vacation Strategy: Chain Dec 24-29 for 9-day break (use 2 PTO days).
- Business Closures: Banks, post offices closed Dec 24-26.
- Stock Market: NYSE closed Dec 25; likely early close Dec 24.
- Travel Alerts: Book now—federal holidays 2025 overlap drives peaks.
Past presidents granted Christmas Eve sporadically; Trump’s double addition sets federal holidays 2025 record. Monitor OPM.gov for confirmations as agencies adjust schedules.
This federal holidays 2025 expansion underscores holiday cheer priority—perfect timing for year-end recharge. Share your long-weekend plans below!