Federal Holidays

When a holiday lands on a weekend

OPM: "Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes the public holidays listed in these pages 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 nonworkday -- Saturday or Sunday -- the holiday usually is observed on Monday (if the holiday falls on Sunday) or Friday (if the holiday falls on Saturday)."

The two rules behind that, from the notes under OPM's tables: "If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See 5 U.S.C. 6103(b).)" and "If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most Federal employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. (See Section 3(a) of Executive Order 11582, February 11, 1971.)"

That is why Independence Day 2027 is observed on Monday, July 5, Christmas Day 2027 on Friday, December 24, and New Year's Day 2028 on Friday, December 31, 2027.

The names are the law's

The third Monday of February is listed as Washington's Birthday. OPM's note: "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."

Holidays and military pay

A military payday that falls on a weekend or a federal holiday moves to the business day before it, so this calendar decides several paydays a year. The date of each one is in the 2027 military pay dates guide, and what Veterans Day brings in free meals and discounts is in the Veterans Day guide.