OPM Confirms Most Federal Employees Will Receive Friday, June 18 Off in Observance of New Juneteenth Federal Holiday

Congress passed legislation this week making June 19 a federal holiday in observance of Juneteenth. The date celebrates the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas following the end of the Civil War. While two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, the date is viewed as the effective end of slavery in the United States.

On Tuesday, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. On Wednesday, the House of Representatives passed the legislation in a 415 to 14 vote.

President Biden signed the legislation into law on Thursday afternoon.

Acting Director of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Kathleen McGettigan released guidance explaining that since the new holiday falls on a Saturday, it will be observed on Friday, June 18 for federal employees for whom Saturday is a nonwork day. As a result, OPM said most full-time federal employees will receive the day off on Friday. Part time employees are not entitled to the day off on Friday.