A surprising holiday gift has been extended to millions of federal workers this year: an unexpected four-day weekend centered around Christmas. The announcement came Thursday afternoon with the signing of an executive order, promising a rare extended break for those serving the nation.
The order grants federal employees December 24th and 26th as days off, effectively bookending Christmas Day and the usual weekend. For many, this translates into a remarkable five-day respite from work, a chance to fully immerse themselves in the holiday season with loved ones.
This move is notable as it represents the first time in recent history that federal employees have been given both the day before and the day after Christmas as official holidays. While presidents have historically offered one of those days, granting both is a less common occurrence.
However, the order includes a crucial caveat: agency heads retain the power to designate certain offices as essential and keep them operational. This ensures continuity for functions deemed critical to national security, defense, or other urgent public needs.
The extended holiday will be treated no differently than other federal holidays regarding pay and leave accrual. This means employees will not experience any reduction in benefits or compensation as a result of the additional days off.
The Office of Personnel Management is tasked with the logistical undertaking of implementing the order across the vast federal workforce, ensuring a smooth and equitable distribution of the holiday benefit.
This isn’t the first time this president has extended holiday generosity. During his previous term, similar extra days off were granted for Christmas Eve in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Looking back, the precedent isn’t entirely consistent. When Christmas fell on a Thursday in 2014, a previous administration only authorized December 26th as a day off, leaving the day before as a regular workday, highlighting the unique nature of this year’s decision.
Last year, the previous administration also recognized the importance of a longer break, granting federal employees Christmas Eve off, continuing a trend of acknowledging the holiday season with extended time for rest and celebration.
