President Donald Trump has announced that most federal employees will receive two additional paid days off around Christmas, under an executive order signed Thursday afternoon. According to Fox News, the order grants eligible federal workers leave on December 24 and December 26, effectively creating a five-day holiday break when combined with Christmas Day and the weekend. This move allows federal employees to enjoy a longer festive period with family and friends, offering an uncommon respite from their usual responsibilities. In a time when work-life balance is increasingly emphasized, this decision underscores the administration’s intent to recognize and reward the service of federal employees across the country.
The executive order specifies: “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.” While presidents have historically granted either the day before or the day after the holiday off, it is relatively rare for both to be given. By including both days, Trump’s administration has provided federal employees with an extended break that allows for travel, family gatherings, and reflection, making this year’s Christmas observance particularly generous in the federal workforce context. The move has already generated positive reactions from federal workers anticipating the extended holiday period.
The order also contains important provisions regarding operational exceptions and pay rules. Agency heads retain the authority to require certain offices to remain open for reasons of “national security, defense, or other urgent public need.” Additionally, the executive order clarifies that the additional days off are to be treated like federal holidays in terms of pay and leave calculations. Fox News noted that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has been directed to take the necessary steps to implement this policy across the federal workforce. These measures ensure that the benefits of the extended holiday are consistent while maintaining the continuity of essential services across critical government operations.
Historically, federal holiday schedules around Christmas have varied by administration. Last year, then-President Joe Biden granted federal employees Christmas Eve off, while during Trump’s first term, workers received an extra day off for Christmas Eve in 2018, 2019, and 2020. When Christmas last fell on a Thursday in 2014, former President Barack Obama only granted Friday, December 26, as a day off, leaving Wednesday as a regular workday. In this context, Trump’s current decision to provide both the day before and the day after Christmas represents a notable departure from recent precedent, signaling a focus on employee morale and a recognition of the value of extended holiday time.
In addition to holiday leave, Trump announced a one-time bonus for U.S. military personnel during his nationwide address on Wednesday evening. More than 1.45 million service members will receive a $1,776 bonus, symbolically referencing the year 1776, when the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain. The bonuses are timed months ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday on July 4, 2026. Trump indicated that the payments, dubbed the “warrior dividend,” had been planned for some time but were not previously disclosed. “In honor of our nation’s founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776. Think of that. And the checks are already on the way. Nobody understood that one until about 30 minutes ago,” he said during his speech, highlighting the administration’s commitment to recognizing the contributions of military personnel.
The announcement coincides with the completion of one of the last major legislative tasks of the year: the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The $901 billion defense package includes key policies that align with the Trump administration’s national defense priorities and passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support, 77-20. While the NDAA is an annual measure typically passed without significant controversy, this year’s bill faced turbulence in the House, with debates over provisions that raised concerns among lawmakers. One notable flashpoint involved a proposal to ease certain safety restrictions in the airspace over Washington, D.C., following a deadly collision earlier this year between a Black Hawk helicopter and a passenger jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that claimed 67 lives. Despite such controversies, the passage of the bill ensures continuity in national defense policy and funding.
Overall, Trump’s executive order granting additional Christmas leave, alongside the military bonus announcement, reflects a broader effort to reward public service and foster morale among both civilian federal employees and uniformed service members. By combining extended holiday time with symbolic recognition of military personnel, the administration is emphasizing both practical benefits and patriotic sentiment. While some operational exceptions remain in place for essential services, the measures represent a significant gesture of appreciation. As the nation approaches the holiday season, federal employees and service members alike are poised to benefit from these decisions, marking a notable chapter in the history of federal holiday observances and end-of-year recognition programs.
