Trump makes Christmas Eve, Boxing day federal holidays for 2025

President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday that makes Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas, also known as Boxing Day, federal holidays for 2025.

The order allows federal departments and agencies to keep parts of their organizations open on those days for national security purposes or for other public needs. 

The action gives federal employees a longer five-day weekend next week, meaning federal workers can depart for the holidays as early as Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025. Presidents in the past have given workers Christmas Eve off or as a half day, Axios reported.

"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 president wrote in the order.

This is not the first time a president has designated a one-time holiday for federal employees. But for officially establishing a federal holiday, that is done by Congress with the president signing off on those laws.  

The action comes after Trump announced bonuses for American service members on Wednesday, to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation.

"Tonight, I am also proud to announce ...1,450,000 military service members will receive a special we call 'warrior dividend' before Christmas," Trump said. "So warrior dividend in honor of our nation's founding in 1776, we are sending every soldier $1,776... and the checks are already on the way."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.