UNITED STATES – Listen up, Federal Employees! You can start planning for your Christmas holiday. President Donald Trump signed an executive order. As a result of the order, federal employees will receive the day off on Christmas Eve.
The order states the following: “all executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Monday, December 24, 2018, the day before Christmas Day.”
But, the order does also state that the heads of executive departments and agencies can use their discretion to determine if an office needs to stay open on that day. Specific employees may have to report to work. Check with your department before arranging your travel plans.
Typically, civil employees are given the day off when Christmas falls on a Tuesday – just like it does this year. Back in 2012, President Barack Obama gave federal employees a four-day weekend. In 2007 and 2011, George Bush did the same.
Possible Federal Shutdown Might Impact Holidays
Trump is doing it this year. However, his order comes in the wake of a possible federal shutdown. This may also impact the holiday break this year. Democrats and Republicans must come to a decision on Friday regarding the funding disagreement for Trump’s border wall.
Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, hoped to avoid a shutdown by introducing a different bill. This bill would fund the government through February 8. Doing this would avoid a lapse in funding right before Christmastime. Democrats rejected a longer-term offer on Tuesday, which lead to this new proposal.
So, it is hard to say what will happen in terms of the government this week. Will a shutdown commence? If so, when will the government be back in session? It is unclear. But, thanks to the bill Trump just signed, most federal employees will get their relaxing Christmas break this holiday season.
