This December, workers in the United States will be able to enjoy a little extra rest during the holidays, thanks to a recent decision by the president. On December 18, Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 26 (Christmas Day) as federal holidays for 2025. This means that some people will be able to rest a little longer on those days, extending the Christmas festivities. While this measure is a relief for many, not all workers will see the benefit of these days off. The reason is that, although Trump has declared these days as holidays for 2025, the measure is not permanent. For a day to become an official holiday on the federal calendar permanently, it must be approved by Congress and signed into law by the president, as happened with Juneteenth in 2021 (June 19). What does this really mean for workers? Although December 24 and 26 will be federal holidays in 2025, not all employees will have the opportunity to enjoy these days off. Trump's decree only affects government agencies, meaning federal offices will be closed. However, private companies can choose to offer these days off, but they are not legally required to do so. Only those who work for the government or federal agencies will be able to take the day off, while other sectors may not see a significant change. What about banks and stores? On December 25, Christmas Day, most banks, stores, and private services will remain closed, as usual. However, December 24 and 26 will still be workdays for many businesses. According to the US Federal Reserve, banks will be open on both dates, except for Christmas Day. In addition, major retailers, such as Walmart, Target, and Costco, will maintain their traditional hours. Closing only on December 25.

Regarding the postal service, United States Postal Service (USPS) post offices will be closed on December 25, but will remain open on December 24 and 26 to provide transaction services to the public.

Is this a permanent change?

It is important to note that this decree by Trump does not imply that these days are permanently added to the holiday calendar. In fact,This type of presidential decree is relatively common during the holiday season. For example, in 2014, President Barack Obama also declared December 26 a holiday, as it fell on a Friday. Furthermore, Trump had already declared December 24th a holiday during his first term in 2019 and 2020.

This type of measure does not change the long-term calendar and, therefore, does not guarantee that December 24th and 26th will be holidays in subsequent years.

If you have plans for those days, it is important to check in advance whether your workplace will be open or closed. Also, if you need to run errands or do some shopping, keep in mind that stores and services will not necessarily be closed. In addition, federal agencies will be the only ones that will not be working on those days. Be sure to organize your activities in advance to avoid any delays.

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