In recent times it seems President Trump has signed an executive order making 2020’s Christmas Eve a federal holiday. This meaning that federal employees get the day off.
According to The Independent, he signed this order Friday and thus reiterates that federal agencies overall will be closed on this day as well. While this is not something we are used to experiencing, it is something that is quite interesting. Yes, there are some exceptions to this but those who are simple government workers will be off on this day.
This gives them an actual four-day weekend for the first time in a long time to truly celebrate the holiday before them. I know, this might not sound like much but to those who want to be home with their families during the holidays, this sets the mood for a good end of the year. Those who want to come together within their households and experience the holiday fully together will be able to do exactly that and no one will have to rush home to try and prepare as they would have if they were only just getting off of work.
Fox5DC inscribed as follows on this topic:
The order goes on to say, in part:
“The heads of executive departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 24, 2020, for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”
While a lot of people wonder why the date itself isn’t just a federal holiday every year, that we aren’t too sure on. Perhaps in time it may end up as such? We’ve experienced this kind of thing from Trump before as he did this in 2019 as well. Sure, officially there are only 10 US Federal holidays but when the president wants to sign off on one, that is something they can do.
The Independent wrote as follows on this topic:
Following the recent order, which will mark the president’s last Christmas in the White House, many wondered why he did not make Election Day a federal holiday.
“It’s that easy, huh? How about making Election Day a federal holiday? Long overdue. Let’s make it happen in 2021,” one person tweeted, tagging president-elect Joe Biden.
For employees in the private sector, federal holidays may or may not mean a day off – as businesses cannot legally be required to observe a holiday.
I guess those are questions we may never get answers to. What do you think about this move? I for one think it is a nice gesture for those who want to spend time with their families that are government workers.