President Trump just gave federal workers an early Christmas surprise.
On Thursday, the president signed an executive order giving federal workers the day before and the day after Christmas off.
Trump had already given federal workers Christmas Eve off, but Thursday’s move goes further, adding December 26 to the holiday schedule.
While past presidents have sometimes given federal workers full or half days off on Christmas Eve—Trump did so in 2019 and 2020—adding December 26 to the holiday schedule is a rare move.
Trump steps up with his year-end address, sending a message to all Americans. AP
The gesture comes after federal workers endured a tough few weeks during last month’s record-breaking 43-day government shutdown.
Federal holidays often set the pace for the private sector, showing the way others might follow.
Even under Trump’s executive order, agency and department heads can still require some federal employees to work on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas.
Ironically, the president who once frowned on the expanding number of national holidays is now adding more.
"Too many non-working holidays in America. It’s costing our country BILLIONS of dollars to keep all these businesses closed," Trump complained on Truth Social last June around Juneteenth.
“The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Last June, Juneteenth largely went uncelebrated at the White House. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed legislation making June 19 a national holiday to honor the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.
While presidents can declare one-time holidays for federal workers, creating a permanent national holiday usually requires approval from Congress.
The Trump administration recently altered the National Park Service’s free-entry days, cutting Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the lineup.
The National Park Service also expanded its free-entry days, adding major holidays like Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day, Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday, the Park Service’s 110th anniversary, and even Flag Day.
