Providing for the Closure of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025

12/18/2025

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Purpose: Order the closing of all Federal executive departments and agencies on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, effectively excusing employees from duty on these dates.
Holiday Closures with Exceptions: While all agencies are generally closed, heads of departments may require certain offices to remain open or have essential employees report for duty for national security, defense, or other public need.
Legal and Regulatory Framework: The designated dates fall under the scope of Executive Order 11582 and relevant statutes (5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b)), which govern employee pay and leave.
Implementation: The Director of the Office of Personnel Management is responsible for taking necessary actions to implement the order, ensuring it aligns with applicable laws and available appropriations.
General Provisions: The order preserves the authority of executive departments and the functions of the Office of Management and Budget, clarifying that no legal rights or benefits are created for enforcement against the United States.
Publication Costs: Costs for publishing this order will be covered by the Office of Personnel Management.

The closure of federal agencies on December 24 and December 26 could delay processing times for federal grants and funding applications. This may impact Vanderbilt’s research funding cycle and project timelines.
Operations and collaborations that involve federal partners may face temporary disruptions. Vanderbilt should plan ahead to minimize any impacts on joint projects or research initiatives.
Departments reliant on federal data or support services may experience temporary delays in accessing crucial information or resources.
Given the provision for certain offices to remain open for reasons of national security or public need, Vanderbilt may need to clarify any ongoing collaborations that require federal participation during these days.

Vanderbilt’s Office of Sponsored Programs may need to adjust submission deadlines and project timelines to accommodate potential delays in federal operations.
Research departments heavily dependent on federal data or support should prepare for possible interruptions and plan accordingly to mitigate impact.
Programs involved in government-funded research should be proactive in communicating with federal contacts to ensure continuity and clarity over holiday closures.

Short-term financial planning might be necessary to account for any delays in the processing of federal payments or grants due to agency closures.
Vanderbilt may need to consider interim funding strategies if disbursements from federal sources are postponed.
While the closure is temporary, the potential backlog of requests could extend beyond the holiday period, affecting financial projections and operations into the new year.

Relevance Score: 2 (The closures pose minor considerations that may require slight adjustments in operations or planning.)

Vanderbilt’s Human Resources Department should communicate with employees about potential impacts on federal services and operations during the closures on December 24 and 26, 2025. This communication can help staff plan for any interruptions, especially those relying on federal services or collaborations.
Office of Federal Relations should engage with relevant federal agencies to understand any exemptions or operational requirements that may impact Vanderbilt’s federally funded projects or partnerships during the closure days.
Research Administration should assess any potential delays in grant processing or federal research administration due to the closures, and adjust timelines and expectations accordingly.

Vanderbilt can use this period to review and optimize internal processes that depend on federal interaction, enhancing efficiency ahead of the holiday closure period.

Relevance Score: 2 (The executive order requires minor updates to processes to accommodate federal closures.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.8

Note: Both dates fall less than 30 days after the order’s issuance on December 18, 2025.

Relevance Score: 5

All Executive Departments and Agencies: This order mandates the closure of all federal executive departments and agencies on December 24, 2025, and December 26, 2025, with exceptions only for designated offices critical to national security and public need.
Office of Personnel Management (OPM): The OPM is directed to take necessary actions to implement this executive order, ensuring compliance with provisions on employee pay and leave.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Although not directly altered by this order, the OMB’s functions remain protected and unaffected, thus it is referenced in the context of budgetary and administrative oversight.

Relevance Score: 5 (This directive applies to the entire federal government, impacting a wide range of agencies and departments.)

Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies – Instructed to determine which offices and installations must remain open based on national security, defense, or other public needs.
Director of the Office of Personnel Management – Charged with taking the necessary actions to implement the closing of federal departments and agencies as specified in the order.

Relevance Score: 5 (The directives impact high-level officials, including Cabinet secretaries and the director of a significant federal agency.)