2025 Federal Holiday Calendar
In 2025, Federal employees will enjoy 12 Federal holidays. Below, you’ll find the full list of these holidays and when they will be observed.
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What are Federal Holidays?
In the U.S., Congress is responsible for designating Federal holidays, which dates back to June 28, 1870. There were four original Federal holidays:
· New Year’s Day
· Independence Day
· Thanksgiving Day
· Christmas Day
Initially, laws around Federal holidays only applied to Federal employees in D.C.; this was expanded to include all Feds employees in 1885.
Today, there are a total of 11 Federal holidays, with Juneteenth National Independence Day being signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2021. Most of these 11 days are also state holidays.
Of these 11 holidays, six are “floating” date holidays, meaning that they always fall on a specific day of the week. The rest are fixed date holidays. When a fixed date holiday falls on a weekend, it is typically observed for Federal employees on the closest weekday. For example, when Veterans Day (November 11) falls on a Saturday, it is observed on the preceding Friday; when it falls on a Sunday, it is observed on the following Monday.
2025 Federal Holiday Calendar
New Year’s Day – Wednesday, January 1
New Year’s Day is observed on January 1 every year, unless it falls on a weekend. It was one of the four original Federal holidays in 1870.
Inauguration Day/Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. – Monday, January 20
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929; his birthday is observed on the third Monday of January each year. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has been a Federal holiday since 1983, signed into law by President Ronald Reagan.
Every four years, the Presidential Inauguration is held on January 20 and observed as a Federal holiday, for Federal employees in Washington, DC. In 2025, the Inauguration will fall on the same day as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Washington’s Birthday – Monday, February 17
Informally known as President’s Day, Washington’s Birthday is observed on the third Monday of each February.
Memorial Day – Monday, May 26
Memorial Day is dedicated to all members of the U.S. military who died while serving the country. It is observed on the last Monday of May and is considered the unofficial start of the summer season.
Juneteenth National Independence Day – Thursday, June 19
The newest Federal holiday, Juneteenth commemorates the end of African American enslavement on June 19, 1965.
Juneteenth is observed on June 19 every year, unless it falls on a weekend.
Independence Day – Friday, July 4
Independence Day is observed on July 4 every year, unless it falls on a weekend. It was one of the four original Federal holidays in 1870.
Labor Day – Monday, September 1
Labor Day honors American workers and is observed the first Monday of September each year. Labor Day is considered the unofficial end of the summer, bookending the season with Memorial Day.
Columbus Day – Monday, October 13
Columbus Day marks the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas and is observed every second Monday of October.
In recent years, some communities have chosen to acknowledgement Indigenous Peoples’ Day in place of Columbus Day.
Veterans Day – Tuesday, November 11
Veterans Day is celebrated in honor of all U.S. military veterans, past and present. It is observed on November 11 every year, unless it falls on a weekend.
Thanksgiving Day – Thursday, November 27
Thanksgiving is acknowledged as a day of thanks for the harvest, rooted in the tradition of early American settlers. It is observed on the fourth Thursday of November and was one of the four original Federal holidays.
In 2024, Thanksgiving fell on November 28, which is its latest possible date.
Christmas Day – Thursday, December 25
Christmas Day is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is observed on December 25 every year, unless it falls on a weekend.
Christmas was one of the four original Federal holidays in 1870.
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