Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the following public holidays for Federal employees. Please note that most Federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule. For these employees, when a holiday falls on a no workday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday).
Friday, January 1*
New Year’s Day
Monday, January 17
Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 21**
Washington’s Birthday
Monday, May 30
Memorial Day
Friday, July 4
Independence Day
Monday, September 5
Labor Day
Monday, October 10
Columbus Day
Wednesday, November 11
Veterans Day
Thursday, November 24
Thanksgiving Day
Friday, December 26***
Christmas Day
Friday, December 31
New Year's Day
* January 1, 2011 (the legal public holiday for New Year’s Day), falls on a Saturday. For most Federal employees, Friday, December 31, 2010, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).)
** This holiday is designated as "Washington’s Birthday" in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.
*** December 25, 2011 (the legal public holiday for Christmas Day), falls on a Sunday. For most Federal employees, Monday, December 26, will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See section 3(a) of Executive order 11582, February 11, 1971.)
