Tue Dec 24 13:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Biden Grants Federal Employees Christmas Eve Off in 2024
**Washington, D.C.** – President Joe Biden has granted federal employees an extra day off for Christmas Eve, closing all executive departments and agencies on Tuesday, December 24, 2024. The announcement, made via executive order on Thursday, ensures a longer holiday break for most federal workers. However, the order allows agency heads to maintain essential operations for national security, defense, or other public needs, meaning some employees may still be required to work.
This decision, while welcomed by many, highlights the discretionary nature of such holiday closures. Previous presidents have varied in their approach, with some granting Christmas Eve off, others giving time off on the day after Christmas, and some offering no additional time beyond the federally mandated Christmas Day holiday. For instance, President Trump granted Christmas Eve off in 2018, 2019, and 2020, while President Obama opted for a different day off in several years.
The executive order underscores that the provision of extra holiday leave is not an automatic entitlement, but rather a decision at the president’s discretion. The lack of a guaranteed additional day off reinforces the year-to-year uncertainty facing federal employees regarding their holiday schedules.
First Piper 