Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2020

This executive order closes all federal executive departments and agencies on December 24, 2020, excusing employees from duty, while allowing agency heads to keep essential operations open for national security or public need. It treats the day as a holiday for pay and leave purposes under existing statutes.

Federal Register Open PDF 85 FR 81337

Impact dates

Dec 24, 2020
Federal government closure and employee excusal from duty

Key directives

All executive departments and agencies closed December 24, 2020
Employees excused from duty on December 24, 2020
Agency heads may exempt certain offices/employees for national security, defense, or public need
December 24, 2020 treated as holiday under EO 11582 and 5 U.S.C. 5546, 6103(b) for pay/leave purposes
OPM Director to implement the order

Who is ordered

OPM Director · OPM
agency heads · various

Timeline

Immediate

OPM director tasked with implementation actions

Near term (90d)

December 24, 2020 closure takes effect

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Minimal tension; routine holiday closure with standard national security exemptions
Vague 'other public need' exemption criterion leaves discretion to agency heads without further guidance
Subject to appropriations availability per standard boilerplate provision