Dec. 26 can become a day off for federal employees when the president issues a temporary order, like President Donald Trump did this year when he declared Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 federal holidays in 2025. Unfortunately, that still leaves the rest of us at the mercy of our workplace's goodwill.

SSA is looking for volunteers to keep working on Dec. 24 and Dec. 26. A former SSA executive says it’s unusual for the agency to remain open on these days.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has posted the following federal holidays for 2026: Because the Fourth of July falls on a Saturday in 2026, most federal employees will take their holiday the day before on July 3. Congress established those 11 federal holidays, according to the Center for Legislative Archives.

President Trump expanded the Christmas break for federal workers in 2025, designating December 24 and 26 as federal holidays. While most federal agencies will close, essential services like the USPS and SSA will maintain limited operations.