All federal employees are “excused from duty” unless they are needed for national security or defense.
President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order last week declaring December 24th and 26th federal holidays alongside Christmas Day.
President Trump ordered, “All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the day before and the day following Christmas Day, respectively.”
His order continued, “The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 24, 2025, or December 26, 2025, or both, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.” These are specific temporary designations, as permanent federal holidays must be approved by Congress.
President Trump made a similar accommodation in 2019 and 2020, under the “Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States.” President Barack Obama declared December 26, 2014, a federal holiday, since it fell on a Friday that year as well.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For President Trump to seek God’s wisdom as he manages the Executive Branch.
- For agency and department heads to be discerning in their exemptions of personnel needed for national security and defense.
Sources: News Nation Now, The White House
