Trump Grants Federal Employees Two-Day Christmas Holiday Extension
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order giving federal employees an unprecedented holiday break this Christmas season. The order, signed on Thursday, provides most government workers with both December 24 and December 26, 2025, off in addition to the Christmas holiday itself. This generous move effectively creates a five-day weekend for many federal employees, who will now be able to enjoy time with their families from Wednesday through Sunday. The decision represents a departure from the more common practice of presidents granting just one additional day—either before or after Christmas—as has been typical in previous administrations.
The executive order maintains some flexibility for national security and essential services. Agency heads retain the authority to determine which offices must remain operational for “national security, defense, or other urgent public need.” For those employees who must work during these days, the order ensures they will be compensated according to federal holiday pay regulations. The Office of Personnel Management Director has been tasked with implementing the necessary steps to apply this policy consistently across the federal workforce, ensuring all eligible employees benefit from this extended break while maintaining critical government functions.
This marks a notable expansion of federal holiday generosity compared to recent administrations. While Trump previously granted Christmas Eve off during his first term in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and former President Biden continued this tradition in 2023, the addition of both surrounding days creates a substantially longer holiday period. By contrast, when Christmas last fell on a Thursday in 2014, former President Obama only granted the following Friday off, requiring federal employees to work on the Wednesday before the holiday. Trump’s decision to provide both days represents a more employee-friendly approach to holiday scheduling that many federal workers will undoubtedly appreciate.
The timing of this announcement, made well in advance of the 2025 holiday season, gives federal agencies and employees ample time to plan accordingly. Families can now arrange travel, gatherings, and celebrations with the confidence of knowing they’ll have an extended period together. For many federal workers who often face the challenge of balancing work responsibilities with family time during the holidays, this decision provides welcome relief and the opportunity to fully embrace the spirit of the season without the pressure of rushing back to work immediately before or after Christmas Day itself.
This executive order comes alongside other employee-focused initiatives from the Trump administration, including the recent distribution of $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers who maintained perfect attendance during a government shutdown. These actions suggest an administration attuned to workforce morale and the importance of work-life balance, particularly during significant holiday periods. For the approximately 2.1 million civilian federal employees across the country, this extended Christmas break represents a meaningful acknowledgment of their service and contributions to government operations throughout the year.
The Christmas holiday period also coincides with First Lady Melania Trump’s White House Christmas decorations, which follow the theme “Home is Where the Heart Is.” As federal employees prepare to enjoy this unusually generous holiday schedule, the executive order serves as a reminder of the administration’s approach to workforce management and employee benefits. Whether this expanded holiday break will become a new precedent for future administrations remains to be seen, but for now, federal employees can look forward to a particularly restful and extended Christmas celebration in 2025, courtesy of President Trump’s executive order.
