Trump signs order giving federal employees Christmas Eve off

President Trump on Tuesday night signed an executive order that gives federal employees the day off on Christmas Eve. 

The executive order, which was released online, says that executive departments and agencies of the federal government will be closed on Dec. 24.

“All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Monday, December 24, 2018, the day before Christmas Day,” the order states. 

{mosads}The Washington Post noted that federal workers have been given the Monday before Christmas off in the past. Former President George W. Bush issued an executive order similar to Trump’s in 2001 and 2007.

Former President Obama issued the same order in 2012. Obama also excused federal employees from working the day after Christmas in 2014, according to the Post. Christmas fell on a Thursday that year. 

The order notes that some workers may be required to show up for work “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.” It also gives heads of executive departments and agencies discretion to decide if offices should remain open on Dec. 24.

The executive order comes as federal employees face uncertainty because of the possibility that the government will shut down this week. Congress must approve a budget in order to keep the government open past Friday.