In a move that significantly expands the holiday season for the federal workforce, President Trump has issued an executive order granting a five-day break for Christmas 2025. As reported by FEDweek, the order excuses federal employees from duty on both Wednesday, December 24, and Friday, December 26, creating a continuous block of time off when combined with the Christmas Day holiday and the following weekend.
This rare “double” grant of administrative leave transforms the standard mid-week holiday into a substantial period of rest, but it also triggers critical logistical rules regarding pay, “use or lose” leave, and scheduling that every employee must navigate immediately.
🎁 The Details: What Has Been Authorized
The executive order officially closes executive departments and agencies on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26, treating them as holidays for pay and leave purposes.
- Wednesday, Dec. 24: Excused absence (8 hours).
- Thursday, Dec. 25: Federal Holiday (Christmas Day).
- Friday, Dec. 26: Excused absence (8 hours).
- Saturday/Sunday: Regular weekend.
The Result: Most employees will leave work on Tuesday, December 23, and not return until Monday, December 29, without using a single hour of their own annual leave.
📊 Sound Data: The Financial Value of This Break
While this time off is a morale booster, it also carries tangible economic value and specific risks for your leave balance.
1. The “Monetary Gift”: For a standard GS-12, Step 5 employee (earning roughly $46/hour depending on locality), this 16-hour grant of administrative leave is equivalent to a $736 bonus. For a GS-15, that value jumps to over $1,200. This is compensation you are receiving in the form of time; ensure you document it correctly on your timesheet to protect your accruals.
2. The “Use or Lose” Trap: This is the most critical data point for your year-end planning. If you had previously scheduled annual leave for Dec. 24 or Dec. 26 to avoid forfeiting it (because you are over the 240-hour carryover limit), you must cancel and reschedule that leave immediately.
- The Rule: OPM regulations state that if an executive order grants time off on a day you scheduled “use or lose” leave, and you do not reschedule it before the end of the leave year (Jan. 10, 2026), that leave is forfeited. You cannot “stack” administrative leave on top of annual leave to save it.
- The Risk: Thousands of employees risk losing 16 hours of leave simply because they forgot to move it to another day before January 10.
3. Productivity Return: Data from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans suggests that extended breaks are not just a perk but a productivity engine. Studies show that employees who utilize extended leave periods report up to 40% higher productivity and reduced burnout upon return. This five-day reset is an opportunity to prevent the “January slump.”
🛡️ Optimize Your Year-End Strategy
A surprise five-day break is excellent news, but it requires quick action to ensure you don’t accidentally lose benefits.
This is where Internal Benefit Advisors provides essential support. We help you look at your leave not just as days off, but as a financial asset.
How We Help You Manage Year-End Benefits:
- “Use or Lose” Rescue: We can help you quickly identify available days to reschedule your threatened annual leave or advise on donating it to the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program if you simply cannot take it in time.
- Lump-Sum Payout Planning: If you are planning to retire at the end of the year (e.g., December 31), we help you calculate how this executive order impacts your final separation date and your lump-sum annual leave payment.
- 2026 Leave Projection: We help you map out your leave strategy for the coming year, ensuring you use your benefits for maximum enjoyment rather than scrambling to “burn” them in December.
Enjoy the break, but check your leave balance first.
Contact Internal Benefit Advisors today for a year-end benefits and retirement review.
References
- FEDweek. “Five-Day Break Granted for Christmas Holiday, 2 Days Excused.” December 18, 2025.
- The White House. Executive Order on Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24 and 26, 2025.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Washington, DC Area General Schedule Locality Pay Tables.
- International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Workplace Wellness Trends Report.
- Internal Benefit Advisors. Retrieved from https://internalbenefitadvisors.com
