President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing executive departments and agencies of the federal government to close on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025 (Christmas Eve) and Friday, Dec. 26, 2025—giving many federal employees a longer break around Christmas Day (Thursday, Dec. 25). (The White House)
What the order does
The executive order states that federal agencies under the executive branch should be closed on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, and that employees should be excused from duty on those dates. (The White House)
It also allows agency leaders to keep certain offices open and require some employees to report to work if needed for national security, defense, or other public need. (The White House)
The order directs the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to take steps to implement it and treats the two dates as covered for pay-and-leave purposes under existing federal statutes referenced in the order. (The White House)
What it doesn’t mean
This is a one-time closure directive for 2025, not a permanent change to the list of federal holidays set by law. Also, it does not automatically apply to private companies, state/local government offices, or schools, which make their own schedules. (The White House)
Even some major institutions that often move with federal calendars are not changing plans—for example, U.S. stock exchanges plan to remain open on both Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 (with the typical early close on Dec. 24 and a full session on Dec. 26). (Reuters)
