Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on January 9, 2025
This document is an Executive Order issued by President Biden ordering the closure of all executive departments and agencies of the federal government on January 9, 2025, to honor James Earl Carter Jr. (Jimmy Carter), the 39th President. While the central directive is a nationwide one-day closure, agency heads retain limited authority to keep certain offices open or require some employees to report to work if necessary for national security, defense, or other public needs. The order relies on existing pay and leave statutes and directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to implement the measure, while clarifying that it does not create new rights and is subject to applicable law and available appropriations. In short: a one-day, government-wide closure for a presidential tribute, with narrowly defined exceptions and implementation carried out under existing laws and policies governing federal pay, leave, and agency operations.
Key Points
- 1All executive departments and agencies must be closed on January 9, 2025, as a mark of respect for President Jimmy Carter.
- 2Agency heads may determine that certain offices or installations must remain open or that certain employees must report for duty on January 9, 2025 for national security, defense, or other public needs.
- 3January 9, 2025 is treated as within the scope of existing pay and leave statutes (Executive Order 11582 and related pay/leaves provisions under 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b)).
- 4The Director of the Office of Personnel Management must take necessary actions to implement the order.
- 5General provisions emphasize that the order does not impair statutory authority or OMB functions, must align with applicable law and appropriations, and does not create legally enforceable rights.