Trump just added 2 federal holidays around Christmas. Who gets off work in CA?
As the holiday season reaches its height, President Donald Trump has moved to give federal workers a longer Christmas break.
On Thursday, Dec. 18, Trump signed an executive order adding two extra paid holidays to the federal calendar in 2025.
During his first term in presidential office, Trump gave federal workers Christmas Eve off in both 2019 and 2020.
Under the new order, all executive departments and federal agencies will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve — and Friday, Dec. 26, the day after Christmas.
Who gets the day off work in California?
Here’s what you need to know:
Who gets Christmas Eve, day after Christmas off work in California?
Federal employees will get Christmas Eve — Wednesday, Dec. 24 — and Friday, Dec. 26, also known as Boxing Day, off with pay in 2025, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
About 150,000 federal workers in California are covered by this policy.
However, some offices may still need to stay open for important “reasons of national security, defense or other public need,” according to the executive order.
Employees in those roles may be required to work one or both days.
If a federal employee does work on Christmas Eve or Dec. 26, existing federal rules apply, according to the executive order.
According to Executive Order 11582, along with provisions in the United States Code, some federal employees may receive holiday pay or earn time off later, depending on their position and schedule, for working those days.
“Employees of the U.S. Postal Service and contract employees should contact their supervisor (or contract officer) to obtain information on their pay and leave entitlements for December 24th and December 26th,” the U.S. Office of Personnel Management said.
Will mail still be delivered on Christmas Eve?
Even though some federal offices will be closed around Christmas, the U.S. Postal Service will continue operating on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, according to the agency’s website.
“Regular mail will be delivered,” the agency said on its website.
Priority Mail Express will also be delivered.
Local post offices will be open, though hours can vary by location, so customers should check with their local branch.
On Christmas Day, post offices will be closed and mail will not be delivered.
Normal mail service will resume on Friday, Dec. 26, according to the agency.
Will Social Security Administration offices close for Christmas?
According to the Social Security Administration website, most field offices will be open on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 26, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
You can call the agency’s toll-free number at 800-772-1213 for service from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 24, and Friday, Dec. 26.
“Our offices will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25, for the Christmas holiday,” the agency said on its website.
For updates, check the Social Security Administration’s Office Closings and Emergencies website.
Will the IRS open or close on Christmas Eve?
The Internal Revenue Service will stay open on Christmas Eve — Wednesday, Dec. 24 — and Friday, Dec. 26, according to reporting from the Federal News Network.
Acting IRS Chief Human Capital Officer David Traynor told employees in a memo that the agency will continue working on “mission-critical efforts,” the Federal News Network reported.
However, customer service phone lines will be offline, and taxpayer assistance centers will be closed on those days.
“Cases will still be worked” during these days, Traynor said, and IT staff will be available for technical support.
What are other federal holidays?
According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, other holidays for federal employees are:
- New Year’s Day, Jan. 1
- Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., or the third Monday in January
- Washington’s Birthday, or the third Monday in February
- Memorial Day, or the last Monday in May
- Juneteenth, June 19
- Independence Day, July 4
- Labor Day, or the first Monday in September
- Columbus Day, or the second Monday in October
- Veterans Day, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving Day, or the fourth Thursday in November
- Christmas Day, Dec. 25
When’s the next federal holiday after Christmas?
Following Christmastime, New Year’s Day — Thursday, Jan. 1 — will be the next federal holiday.
This story was originally published December 23, 2025 at 1:55 PM with the headline "Trump just added 2 federal holidays around Christmas. Who gets off work in CA?."
