Half-Day Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies on Thursday, December 24, 2009

This executive order closes all executive branch departments and agencies for the last half of the workday on Thursday, December 24, 2009, the day before Christmas, with exceptions for national security, defense, or other public needs. It aligns the half-day closure with existing pay and leave statutes for federal employees.

Federal Register Open PDF 74 FR 66563

Impact dates

Dec 24, 2009
Half-day closure of executive departments and agencies takes effect

Key directives

All executive branch departments and agencies closed for last half of scheduled workday on December 24, 2009
Agency heads may exempt certain offices/employees for national security, defense, or other public need
December 24, 2009 treated as falling under Executive Order 11582 and 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) for pay and leave purposes

Who is ordered

agency heads · various

Timeline

Immediate

EO issued December 11, 2009

Near term (90d)

Half-day closure on December 24, 2009

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Minimal operational tension given routine nature of pre-holiday closures
Vague 'other public need' exemption standard gives agency heads broad discretion without defined criteria