Trump signs executive order making Christmas Eve and December 26 official federal holidays

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Thursday, December 18, signed an executive order to ensure that federal workers get Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas off from work.

Former presidents have given full or half days on Christmas Eve. Trump did the same in 2019 and 2020, but it is the first time December 26 has been declared a holiday.

Decision comes following rough phase of government shutdown

Trump made the decision after federal workers had a rough couple of weeks during the record-breaking 43-day government shutdown that ended last month.

As per Trump’s executive order, agency and department heads can still require certain federal employees to show up to work on Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas.

Interestingly, Trump had earlier been critical of the ever-expanding list of national holidays. In June 2025, he wrote in a Truth Social post, "Too many non-working holidays in America. It is costing our Country $BILLIONS OF DOLLARS to keep all of these businesses closed." 

He added, "The workers don’t want it either! Soon we’ll end up having a holiday for every once working day of the year. It must change if we are going to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"

In 2022, former President Joe Biden signed legislation, designating June 19 as a national holiday to celebrate the emancipation of slaves in the US. Even though presidents can designate one-time holidays for federal workers, it is generally up to Congress to pass a law to form a permanent national holiday. 

Meanwhile, the Trump administration recently adjusted the National Park Service’s free entrance days and scrapped Martin Luther King Jr Day and Juneteenth from the list. 

Trump announces 'warrior dividend' for US service members

Trump on Wednesday announced a one-time $1,776 payment to US service members, branded as a "warrior dividend." Senior administration and Pentagon officials confirmed that the payments will be funded through existing military housing subsidy money already approved by Congress.

The funds were allocated earlier this year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and payments are expected to be delivered to eligible service members by December 20. 

The POTUS said that the $1,776 amount was chosen to honor the nation's founding year, as the US approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026.

As per a senior administration official, the one-time payments will be funded using money appropriated to supplement the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), a benefit intended to help military families offset housing costs.

Notably, Congress approved $2.9 billion for BAH supplements in the summer, and approximately $2.6 billion of that amount will be used for the "warrior dividend" payments.