Federal Holiday
Summary Definition: A government-recognized day during which most federal offices and services close.
What are Federal Holidays?
A federal holiday is a government-designated day during which most federal offices and agencies (e.g., U.S. post offices or federal banks) are closed.
As established by Congress, federal holidays apply specifically to federal employees and agencies. Many private employers, however, also choose to follow the federal holiday calendar by providing work holidays in the form of paid time off (PTO) or adjusted work schedules. This is especially true for U.S. holidays with broad cultural significance (e.g., Veteran’s Day or Thanksgiving).
Key Takeaways
- A federal holiday is a day officially recognized by the U.S. government on which federal offices and agencies shut down.
- The U.S. currently recognizes 11 annual federal holidays, and knowing their dates and observance rules can be essential for HR teams managing time off, payroll, and staffing.
- Distinguishing between federal, religious, and national holidays helps HR professionals build inclusive, compliant policies that respect workplace diversity and fulfill legal obligations.
How Many Federal Holidays Are There?
There are currently 11 U.S. federal holidays, each established by federal law and primarily observed by federal agencies.
The tradition of U.S. federal holidays began in 1870, when Congress granted PTO to federal employees in Washington, D.C., for New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Over the next several years, the list of federal holidays grew to include George Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, and Labor Day. By 1885, many of these observances were nationwide practices for all federal employees.
In the centuries that followed, some federal holidays in the United States also evolved in meaning (e.g., Armistice Day became Veterans Day in 1954 to honor all U.S. veterans) while others were newly established (e.g., Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983 and Juneteenth in 2021).
Furthermore, in 1968, the Uniform Monday Holiday Act shifted several observances, such as Memorial Day and Washington’s Birthday, to Mondays to create consistent long weekends.
U.S. Federal Holidays 2025
Each year, the dates on which federal holidays are observed shift slightly depending on the calendar, especially when they fall on weekends. Organizations should annually update their holiday calendars to ensure accurate scheduling.
| U.S. Federal Holiday | 2025 Date | 2026 Date |
| New Year's Day | Wednesday, January 1 | Thursday, January 1 |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, January 20 | Monday, January 19 |
| Washington's Birthday | Monday, February 17 | Monday, February 16 |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 26 | Monday, May 25 |
| Juneteenth | Thursday, June 19 | Friday, June 19 |
| Independence Day | Friday, July 4 | Saturday, July 4 (observed Friday, July 3) |
| Labor Day | Monday, September 1 | Monday, September 7 |
| Columbus Day | Monday, October 13 | Monday, October 12 |
| Veterans Day | Tuesday, November 11 | Wednesday, November 11 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, November 27 | Thursday, November 26 |
| Christmas Day | Thursday, December 25 | Friday, December 25 |
Non-Federal Holidays
Despite widespread practice and observance, many cultural and religious dates are not U.S. federal holidays.
Understanding the distinctions between public holidays is essential for HR teams managing inclusive time-off policies, internal communications, and employee engagement across diverse workforces.
National vs. Federal Holidays
The U.S. currently has no federal holiday legally requiring all businesses and public services to close. It does, however, have national holidays, which are cultural observances widely celebrated across the country.
Halloween, St. Patrick’s Day, and Valentine’s Day, for example, are popular traditions many people refer to as U.S. national holidays, but they’re not officially recognized by federal law and don’t mandate a nationwide shutdown of government services.
Religious vs. Federal Holidays
In keeping with the First Amendment’s separation of church and state, every U.S. federal holiday is secular by law (i.e., not based on religion). While some of these government holidays also have religious roots (e.g., Christmas), they’re recognized for their cultural significance and observance, not their religious aspects.
Employers, therefore, aren’t legally required to close for religious holidays, though they may need to provide reasonable accommodations for them under equal employment laws, such as flexible hours or unpaid time off.
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