While many retailers, businesses and federal government offices are closed each year on Christmas Day, this year, things may close earlier in the week and stay closed after the holiday due to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump last week.
The executive order, signed Dec. 18, essentially declares Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas 2025 federal holidays, saying “all executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty.”
While the order gives some federal employees Wednesday and Friday off in addition to Thursday, it also said that certain offices will remain open, with other employees required to work for national security, defense or other reasons.
According to the White House, the order applies only on Dec. 24, 2025 and Dec. 26, 2025.
Does the order mean banks, the United States Postal Service and more offices will be closed for three days this week? Here’s what to know.
Are Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 federal holidays?
It’s not the first time a president issued an executive order giving workers an additional day off during the holiday season.
In 2024, President Joe Biden issued an executive order that said “all executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government” will be closed, and that employees would be “excused from duty on Tuesday, December 24, 2024, the day before Christmas Day.”
President Trump also gave workers Christmas Eve off during his first term.
Though some federal workers this year will get a long weekend, the federal holiday declaration for Dec. 24 and Dec. 26 is not permanent. That’s because in order for a federal holiday to be designated in perpetuity, Congress would need to pass legislation, which then must be signed into law by the president.
This was most recently done in 2021, when President Joe Biden made Juneteenth a federal holiday.
According to the 2025 order, some federal workers will have the days off, but others may be required to work at the discretion of their leaders.
Are banks open?
Most banks will be open Christmas Eve, though they may have shortened hours.
Chase Bank branches will be open until 1 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve, according to a spokesperson. They are closed on Thursday for Christmas Day, and then will be open for normal business hours on Friday.
Will mail be delivered?
The United States Postal Service will be open, with mail delivery, on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26. The post office is closed on Christmas Day.
Illinois DMVs and other offices
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, all secretary of state offices and DMVs will be closed Dec. 24 and 25, but open on Dec. 26.
Is the stock market open?
The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close at 1 p.m. on Christmas Eve. It will remain closed all day Thursday for Christmas Day, with regular trading hours Friday, Dec. 26.
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