President Trump designated Christmas Eve as a federal holiday.
On Friday, the president issued an executive order that requires “all executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government” to be closed on Dec. 24, Christmas Eve, giving federal employees a full day off.
When Christmas falls on Friday, as it has in years past, presidents have designated Christmas Eve as half days. Former President Barack Obama allowed half days in 2015 and 2009, and former President Bill Clinton granted a half day in 1998, according to Government Executive.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized the importance of Christmas during both his first term as president and as a Republican candidate in the 2016 campaign. During a youth conservative conference in 2019, Trump accused Democrats of “trying to take ‘Christmas’ out of Christmas.”
“They’re all saying Merry Christmas again,” Trump said then.
