Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2019

This executive order grants federal employees a day off on December 24, 2019, by closing all executive departments and agencies the day before Christmas. Agency heads may exempt certain offices and employees for national security, defense, or other public needs.

Federal Register Open PDF 84 FR 69983

Impact dates

Dec 24, 2019
Federal government closure takes effect

Key directives

All executive departments and agencies closed on December 24, 2019
Agency heads may determine exceptions for national security, defense, or public need
December 24, 2019 treated as holiday under existing pay and leave statutes
OPM Director to take necessary implementation actions

Who is ordered

OPM Director · OPM
Agency Heads · Various

Timeline

Immediate

EO signed December 17, 2019

Near term (90d)

Closure takes effect December 24, 2019
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, though typical for such orders