Trump just announced Christmas Eve as a national holiday. Here’s what’s open and closed?

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President Donald Trump gave federal workers an early present by signing an executive order—approved last Thursday—that designates Dec. 24 (Wednesday) and Dec. 26 (Friday) as 2025 federal holidays, essentially granting hundreds of thousands of government employees a five-day weekend.

Though the move boosts morale in the executive branch—shutting non-essential agencies from Christmas Eve through the following Sunday—it creates a complicated mix of operating hours for the private sector and quasi-governmental services.

“All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025,” the executive order states, with a key caveat: agency heads can keep offices open for “reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”

While generous, the action isn’t unprecedented. Presidents frequently use executive orders to close the government on mid-week Christmas Eves; Trump did so in 2018, 2019, and 2020, and President Barack Obama closed it on Dec. 26, 2014. Securing both adjacent days, however, is rare. Crucially, Trump’s order does not legally require banks, markets, or private businesses to close.

That said, here’s a breakdown of what’s open and closed on December 24.

Government services & mail

Most federal offices—like Social Security Administration field offices and passport agencies—will be closed, but the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is an exception. Even though it’s a federal agency, USPS operations are largely funded by revenue rather than tax dollars. Post offices are expected to stay open on Christmas Eve (likely with shortened retail hours) and resume normal operations on Dec. 26. Mail will be delivered on both days, though not on Christmas Day.

Financial markets

Wall Street isn’t taking the extra days off. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will follow an adjusted schedule:

  • Dec. 24: Open, with an early close at 1:00 p.m. ET.
  • Dec. 25: Closed.
  • Dec. 26: Open for a full trading day.

Banks

The Federal Reserve hasn’t adopted the additional holidays for its banking operations. As a result, most major banks (Chase, , Wells Fargo) will remain open on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26. Customers should expect branches to close early on the 24th, but online banking and ATMs will function normally.

& logistics

For businesses handling last-minute inventory, shipping carriers have different post-Christmas plans:

  • FedEx: Plans to be fully operational on Dec. 26, though some freight services may run on a modified schedule.
  • UPS: Has announced no pickup or delivery service for Dec. 26, treating it as an extended holiday alongside Christmas Day.

Private sector & retail

Major retailers like and are unaffected by the federal closure. They will generally be open for last-minute shoppers on Christmas Eve, closed Christmas Day, and fully open for returns and sales on Dec. 26.