Earlier this week, we published a column promising to give readers a “heads up” if or when President Bush issued an Executive Order giving federal employees the day off on the day after Christmas.
You can now make your plans without having to use some of your annual leave. President Bush has issued an Executive Order giving federal employees an extra holiday this year: December 26, 2008. The closing of agencies will be in accordance with Executive Order 11582, “Observance of holidays by Government agencies.”
The Order was issued this morning, December 12, and reads as follows:
All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Friday, December 26, 2008, the day after Christmas Day, except as provided in section 2 of this order.
Sec. 2. The heads of executive branch departments and agencies may determine that certain offices and installations of their organizations, or parts thereof, must remain open and that certain employees must report for duty on December 26, 2008, for reasons of national security or defense or other public need.
Sec. 3. Friday, December 26, 2008, shall be considered as falling within the scope of Executive Order 11582 of February 11, 1971, and of 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) and other similar statutes insofar as they relate to the pay and leave of employees of the United States.
Sec. 4. This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
So, Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays to federal employees from President George Bush.