President Trump delivered an early Christmas gift this week, and no, it was not wrapped in bureaucracy or delayed by a committee hearing. On Thursday, he signed an executive order giving most federal employees Christmas Eve, December 24, and the day after Christmas, December 26, off. With Christmas Day itself already a federal holiday and falling on a Thursday, that decision effectively creates a five-day break. For government workers used to grinding through the calendar, that is about as festive as Washington ever gets.
The order directs all executive departments and agencies to close on those two days, with some obvious exceptions. National security, defense, law enforcement, healthcare, and emergency services will still be on duty where needed. The country still has to function, even if the rest of the federal workforce is home untangling Christmas lights or wondering where all the batteries went.
The language of the order is straightforward and refreshingly unambiguous. “By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. 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.” No spin, no fluff, just a clear directive.
This move is not without precedent, but it is still generous by federal standards. Presidents have long had the authority to grant additional time off for executive branch employees without congressional approval, provided it is limited in scope. During his first term, President Trump gave Christmas Eve off in 2018, 2019, and 2020, including a full day off when Christmas Eve landed on a Thursday in 2020. Former President Barack Obama did something similar in 2014 by granting December 26 off when Christmas fell on a Thursday.
The timing of this announcement also matters. It came just after President Trump revealed in a primetime address that all U.S. service members will receive a $1,776 warrior dividend as a Christmas gift. War Secretary Pete Hegseth added that the bonus will be tax free and is already being distributed. More than 1.45 million service members will receive the payment, a tangible show of appreciation for those who actually keep the country safe.
Between giving federal workers a real holiday break and putting cash directly into the hands of service members, President Trump is making it clear that Christmas under his watch is not just a talking point. It comes with time off, real money, and a reminder that leadership sometimes means doing something simple and decent, without asking permission from the usual crowd.
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