Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Monday, December 24, 2007

This executive order grants all federal executive branch employees a day off on Monday, December 24, 2007, the day before Christmas, with agency heads retaining authority to keep essential operations open for national security, defense, or other public needs. It ensures affected employees receive appropriate pay and leave treatment under existing statutes.

Federal Register Open PDF 72 FR 70477

Impact dates

Dec 24, 2007
Federal government closure; all executive branch departments and agencies closed, employees excused from duty

Key directives

All executive branch departments and agencies closed December 24, 2007
Agency heads may exempt certain offices/employees for national security, defense, or public need
December 24, 2007 treated as covered holiday for pay and leave purposes under EO 11582 and 5 U.S.C. 5546, 6103(b)

Who is ordered

heads of executive branch departments and agencies · Various

Timeline

Immediate

EO issued December 6, 2007

Near term (90d)

Federal closure on December 24, 2007

Long term

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Risks & tensions

Minimal tension: routine holiday administrative action; exemptions for 'national security or defense or other public need' are standard and discretionary
No stated mechanism for resolving disputes over which employees are exempted