Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2018

This executive order designates Monday, December 24, 2018 as a federal holiday, closing all executive departments and agencies and excusing employees from duty. Agency heads may exempt certain offices and employees for national security, defense, or other public needs.

Federal Register Open PDF 83 FR 65481

Impact dates

Dec 24, 2018
Federal government closure and employee excusal from duty

Key directives

Close all executive departments and agencies on December 24, 2018
Excuse federal employees from duty on December 24, 2018
Agency heads may determine exceptions for national security, defense, or public need
Treat December 24, 2018 as covered holiday under EO 11582 and 5 U.S.C. 5546/6103(b) for pay and leave purposes
OPM Director to implement the order

Who is ordered

OPM Director · OPM
agency heads · Various

Timeline

Immediate

EO issued December 18, 2018

Near term (90d)

Federal closure on December 24, 2018
OPM implementation actions

Long term

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Risks & tensions

Minimal tension; routine holiday closure with standard national security exemptions
Vague: 'other public need' exception allows broad agency head discretion, but this is typical for such orders