Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2020
Signed: December 11, 2020
Published: December 16, 2020
Document Number: 2020-27807
📋Summary
This executive order closes all federal executive departments and agencies on December 24, 2020, excusing most federal employees from work that day. It affects employees of executive branch agencies, with exceptions for offices and staff needed for national security, defense, or other public needs who may still be required to work. It directs that December 24 be treated like a federal holiday for purposes of federal employee pay and leave rules. The Office of Personnel Management is instructed to take the steps needed to carry out the closure, consistent with existing law and available funding.
💼Business Impact
This order primarily affects businesses that rely on federal offices being open—government contractors, import/export and logistics firms (Customs/port-related paperwork), regulated industries needing agency approvals (FDA, EPA, FCC, SEC), and companies with time-sensitive filings or benefit processing (immigration, SBA/USDA programs). While most federal employees are excused from duty on Dec. 24, agencies can keep critical functions open for “public need,” so expect uneven availability (e.g., security/defense operations may continue while routine permitting, reviews, and customer service slow). Immediate actions: move any submissions, approvals, inspections, or meetings off Dec. 24; confirm with your agency contacts which offices remain operational; and adjust internal deadlines, shipping/clearance plans, and customer commitments to account for a one-day federal processing pause.
Full Text
Executive Order 13965 of December 11, 2020
Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2020
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1 . All executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Thursday, December 24, 2020, the day before Christmas Day.
Sec. 2 . 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.
Sec. 3 . December 24, 2020, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States.
Sec. 4 . The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall take such actions as may be necessary to implement this order.
Sec. 5 . General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(b) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
( printed page 81338)(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
THE WHITE HOUSE,
December 11, 2020.