Federal holidays in the United States

Federal holidays in the United States
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Name	Federal holidays in the United States
Type	National public holidays
Observedby	United States
Significance	Recognition of national events, persons, and institutions
Date	Varies by holiday
Frequency	Annual

Contents

Federal holidays in the United States define a set of annually observed dates on which the United States federal government closes non-essential offices, and many private sector employers alter schedules. These holidays commemorate presidents, civil rights leaders, historical events, and cultural observances associated with figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., and institutions like the United States Congress and the Supreme Court of the United States. Federal holidays interact with state law and municipal practices in jurisdictions including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

Overview

Federal holidays are codified in statutes enacted by the United States Congress and administered by agencies such as the United States Office of Personnel Management and the General Services Administration. Prominent commemorations honor leaders like Thomas Jefferson and events such as Independence Day and observances tied to national institutions including the United States Armed Forces through Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The list reflects political compromises influenced by lawmakers from states like Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia and by social movements associated with figures such as Susan B. Anthony and organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Dates may be fixed or moved by statutes that reference calendar rules used by the United States Calendar Committee and practices modeled after observances in capitals like Washington, D.C..

Current federal holidays recognized by statute cover a mix of historic, civic, and cultural observances. Major entries commemorate founding figures and landmark events: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Additional observances include days tied to former presidents such as George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and to civil rights milestones associated with activists like Rosa Parks and Frederick Douglass. Federal recognition affects payroll, postal service operations as overseen by the United States Postal Service, and banking schedules regulated by institutions like the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The statutory list evolved through congressional acts influenced by presidents including Grover Cleveland, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Richard Nixon. Early legislation established holidays tied to monarchical traditions adapted after the American Revolutionary War and the Constitution of the United States. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act, debated in the United States Senate and signed into law by presidents such as Lyndon B. Johnson or successors, standardized several observances to create long weekends, affecting holidays including Washington's Birthday and Memorial Day. Legislative additions reflect social change: Martin Luther King Jr. Day followed advocacy by lawmakers like Representative John Conyers and organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, while Juneteenth National Independence Day became law after campaigns involving officials like Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and activists in Texas. Court decisions by the Supreme Court of the United States and administrative guidance from the United States Office of Personnel Management have shaped implementation, while treaties and international calendars, referenced by bodies like the United Nations, sometimes inform diplomatic observances.

Federal workforce practices determine pay, leave, and scheduling for employees of agencies such as the Department of Defense, Department of the Treasury, and the Internal Revenue Service. OPM-issued guidelines cover premium pay for work on a holiday, telework policies used by the General Services Administration, and closure procedures for facilities including National Archives and Records Administration sites and Smithsonian Institution museums. Postal operations under the United States Postal Service suspend regular delivery on most federal holidays; similarly, trading on exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ is often halted. Uniformed services including the United States Army, United States Navy, and United States Air Force observe distinct ceremonial practices on days such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day, coordinated with veterans' organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

States, territories, and municipalities maintain separate calendars: legislatures in California, Texas, Florida, New York State, and Pennsylvania may designate additional holidays or substitute alternatives like observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day in place of Columbus Day. Local governments in cities such as Seattle, Portland, and Albuquerque have enacted proclamations altering public school schedules administered by school boards like those in Los Angeles Unified School District and Chicago Public Schools. U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, and the United States Virgin Islands observe unique statutory holidays reflecting cultural heritage tied to leaders such as Pablo Casals or events like Discovery of Puerto Rico.

Debates surrounding federal holidays involve contested figures and events, with critics targeting observances like Columbus Day and proposing alternatives such as Indigenous Peoples' Day or commemorations of leaders like Harriet Tubman. Legislative proposals have sought to add holidays for labor leaders like A. Philip Randolph, activists such as Ida B. Wells, and scientists like Ellen Swallow Richards, while opponents cite economic costs raised by unions including the AFL–CIO and business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce of the United States. Court cases and public campaigns involving civil rights organizations like the NAACP and cultural institutions including the Smithsonian Institution influence adoption, and policymakers in the United States Senate and House of Representatives continue to weigh statutory amendments and executive proclamations by presidents like Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Category:United States public holidays