On December 18, 2025, President Trump issued an Executive Order providing for the closure of Executive departments and agencies of the Federal government on December 24 and 26.
The Executive Order directs all Executive departments and agencies of the Federal government to close on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 and Friday, December 26, 2025 and directs employees of such departments and agencies to be excused from duty on those days.
The Executive Order states that the order shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, which President Richard Nixon issued regarding the observance of holidays by Federal government departments and agencies, and 5 U.S.C. 6103, subdivision (b), which provides for holiday leave and pay for Federal employees.
The Executive Order does not make December 24 or December 26 nationwide Federal holidays or legal public holidays under 5 USC 6103, subdivision (a).
For represented local government agency employees in the State of California, holidays are determined by the collective bargaining process between public agencies and recognized employee organizations at those agencies and the parties’ mutual agreement to recognize certain days as holidays for represented employees. In most cases, the closure of Executive departments and agencies pursuant to the Executive Order will not create any new holiday leave entitlement for represented local government agency employees in California. Even where a memorandum of understanding recognizes nationwide Federal holidays or legal public holidays, the Executive Order will not create any new holiday leave entitlements for represented local government agency employees.
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore employees will continue to monitor executive orders and report on executive orders relevant to firm clients.