Frank Rondel
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday, December 18, 2025, officially declaring Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas as federal holidays for the year 2025, meaning federal offices will be closed on those days, customreceipt.com via USA TODAY. This move provides an extended holiday period for government employees, as Christmas falls on a Thursday in 2025, allowing a potential break from Wednesday, December 24, through Friday, December 26.
Although Christmas Eve and December 26 are recognized as federal holidays for 2025, they are temporary and not permanent additions to the official federal holiday calendar. Permanent designation requires Congress to pass legislation, which must then be signed into law by the president. The most recent example of a permanent federal holiday was Juneteenth, added in 2021 under President Biden. Temporary holiday orders are occasionally issued by presidents, particularly for winter celebrations. In 2014, President Barack Obama declared December 26 a federal holiday, and during his first term, Trump had previously made Christmas Eve a federal holiday in 2019 and 2020.
However, the executive order does not guarantee paid time off for most Americans outside federal agencies. Many private employers and businesses may follow federal holiday observances voluntarily, but they are not legally required to provide these additional days off. Federal agency employees, however, will have closures, and agency leaders can decide whether certain staff must report to work.
Regarding banks, post offices, and retail stores, closures will be limited. The U.S. Postal Service will remain open for retail services on December 24 and 26, while mail delivery continues as usual except for Christmas Day. Banks will maintain normal operations on December 24 and 26, closing only on Christmas Day, according to the Federal Reserve. Major retailers, including Target, Walmart, and Costco, will also remain open on Christmas Eve and December 26, closing solely on December 25, following their traditional holiday schedules.
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