Trump Gives Federal Workers 2 Extra Days Off Around Christmas, Pay Raises

Federal workers were given more time off next week for Christmas and most will receive a 1 percent pay bump in the New Year.

Rachel Acenas

Published: 12/18/2025, 4:05:13 PM EST

Trump Gives Federal Workers 2 Extra Days Off Around Christmas, Pay Raises — The 2025 Capitol Christmas tree on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Dec. 7, 2025. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump issued an executive order Thursday giving federal employees two extra days off next week.

Trump has declared Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2025, as an official holiday for federal workers, as well as Dec. 26, 2025, according to the executive order.

That's in addition to Christmas Day, Dec. 25, which is already a federal holiday.

"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," the order states.

The move gives federal employees three days off next week, but actually a total of five off including the weekend.

Trump offered the days off to workers back in 2018, 2019, and 2020 during his first term in the White House. His predecessor, former President Joe Biden, gave an extra day off for Christmas Eve in 2024.

The Office of Personnel Management issued guidance on Trump's directive.

"To celebrate Christmas, President Trump has issued an Executive Order excusing Federal employees from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025 and Friday, December 26, 2025, except those who, in the judgment of the head of the agency, cannot be excused for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need," OPM wrote. "For pay and leave purposes, this period will be treated as falling within the scope of statutes and Executive orders governing holidays for Federal employees."

Trump also signed an executive order Thursday that finalizes the 2026 federal one percent pay raise for most workers,

The White House published the new pay tables detailing the pay rates. For most workers, the federal pay raise takes effect during the first full pay period after Jan. 1, 2026.

The order also directs OPM to assess whether a 3.8 percent raise should be given to “certain federal civilian law enforcement personnel.”

Every president is required to finalize federal pay raises each year by Dec. 31.

Trump’s end-of-the-year actions come after he just announced the day before a “Warrior Dividend” for the U.S. military. Under the initiative, nearly 1.5 million service members will receive a $1,776 bonus to both thank them for their military service and to commemorate the 250 years the U.S. military has been defending the nation.

The funds to pay for the Warrior Dividend came earlier this year as part of the president's One Big Beautiful Bill.