In a move that has sparked commentary, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order granting federal employees two additional days off around the Christmas period this year.
Executive Order Creates Extended Festive Break
The order mandates that federal workers receive time off on both Christmas Eve and 26 December. This will result in the closure of federal agencies and excuse employees from duty, effectively creating a three-day holiday break that includes Christmas Day itself.
This decision marks a notable shift in tone from the President, who recently criticised the number of federal holidays. He specifically targeted Juneteenth – the day commemorating the end of slavery in the US – stating there were "too many non-working holidays" that cost the country billions of dollars.
Contrast with Previous Holiday Criticism
The addition of these two days off brings the total number of federal holidays in the United States this year to 13. It is not the first time President Trump has designated Christmas Eve as a holiday for federal workers, having done so previously in 2019 and 2020.
Separately, the National Park Service has announced plans for free admission on several federal holidays in 2026, including the President's birthday. However, the list of free-entry days notably excluded Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth, a detail that has drawn attention given the recent context.
Reactions and Broader Context
The announcement has been met with mixed reactions. Fox News host Jesse Watters commented on a related matter involving White House plaques, shrugging it off by remarking, "It's his own house." The juxtaposition of criticising one holiday while adding others close to a traditional Christian celebration is likely to fuel further debate about policy and priorities in the final year of the Trump administration.
The executive order directly impacts hundreds of thousands of federal employees across the United States, guaranteeing them an extended festive break. The financial implications of the closure, which the President cited as a concern regarding Juneteenth, have not been detailed in relation to this new order.
