Trump: On December 24 and 26 orders the closing of federal offices.

Trump: In order to give government workers two extra days off around Christmas, US President Donald Trump ordered the closing of federal executive departments and agencies on December 24 and December 26.

“All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty” on Wednesday, December 24, and Friday, December 26, the days just before and following Christmas Day, according to an executive order issued at the White House.

In order to maintain important services during the Christmas season, the directive permits agency heads to keep certain offices or facilities open and mandate that workers report for duty when required “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”

The Office of Personnel Management Director has been instructed to take the necessary actions to carry out the directive.

As part of the administration’s Christmas schedule, Trump officially ordered the temporary closing of government offices on December 18.

Executive orders have historically been used by US presidents to extend the vacation time of federal workers around significant holidays, especially Christmas, while preserving exceptions for critical government operations.