Millions of Americans working in the federal government are set to enjoy two bonus days off before the end of the year - thanks to a new executive order signed by President Donald Trump just days before Christmas.
The order declares both Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas as federal holidays, meaning December 24 and December 26 will now be days off for around three million government employees.
The executive order reads: "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."
Federal employees will get both Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas off from work. Credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty
It’s not the first time Trump has ruled Christmas Eve a federal holiday. During his first term, he approved the day off three years in a row - a practice former President Joe Biden continued while in office.
Even back in 2014, former President Barack Obama chose to give federal workers December 26 off instead of Christmas Eve, when the holiday fell on a Thursday.
Despite the generous move, certain federal departments and agencies will retain the authority to require employees to work on those dates if necessary.
Trump slams holiday overload
This year, Americans have already enjoyed 10 federal holidays, including New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday, Washington’s Birthday in February, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving, while Christmas Day has been a federal holiday since 1870.
Juneteenth was also included as a federal holiday - though not without controversy.
Trump, 79, has previously criticized the growing number of non-working holidays in the US. Just before Juneteenth this year, he wrote on Truth Social: "Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed."
He added: "The workers don't want it either! Soon we'll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year."
Juneteenth, which commemorates the emancipation of slaves in Texas in 1865, has sparked debate since it became a federal holiday.
Trump’s June post aligned with other changes he made, including the removal of Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day from the National Park Service’s list of free entrance days.
Instead, the National Park Service now recognizes Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, the National Park Service's 110th birthday, Constitution Day, and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthday as free entry dates. Flag Day - which falls on Trump's own birthday, June 14 - was also added to the list.
While Trump expanded the federal holiday calendar for this year, California is preparing to add another observance of its own.
Starting in 2026, Diwali will become an official state holiday. It will be celebrated between Labor Day and Veterans Day.
Credit: Pool / Getty
Executive orders keep coming
Trump's holiday order wasn’t the only announcement this week. He also signed off on a controversial executive order reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.
“I promised to be the president of common sense and that is exactly what we are doing,” he said.
The change doesn’t legalize marijuana but opens it up for more medical research. “It doesn't legalize marijuana in any way, shape or form,” he stated. “And in no way sanctions it's use for a recreational drug.”
He added: “I always told my kids don't take drugs,” telling America's youth: “Just don't do it."
The move faced pushback from House Republicans who warned that the decision could send the wrong message.