Executive Order 13965Executive Order

Providing for the Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2020

Donald J. Trump

Signed: Dec 11, 2020

Published: Dec 16, 2020

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview

This is an executive order issued by the President directing that all executive departments and agencies of the federal government be closed and their employees excused from duty on Thursday, December 24, 2020 (the day before Christmas). Agency heads may keep certain offices or installations open and require some employees to report to work for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need. The order acknowledges pay and leave rules already in law and directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to implement the order. It emphasizes that the order must be implemented in accordance with applicable law and only to the extent funding is available, and it does not create any new rights or benefits.

Key Points

1One-day federal government closure: All executive departments and agencies advised to close on December 24, 2020, with employees excused from duty.
2Possible exemptions for essential functions: Agency heads can determine that certain offices or operations remain open and that some employees must report to work due to national security, defense, or other public needs.
3Pay and leave framework: The date is treated within existing pay and leave statutes (e.g., Executive Order 11582 and related laws on pay and leave for federal employees).
4Implementation responsibility: The Director of the Office of Personnel Management is tasked with implementing the order.
5Legal framework and limitations: The order is subject to applicable law and available appropriations; it does not expand agency authority, nor create enforceable rights or benefits for individuals.

Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 8, 2025