Christmas is over, but returning to work in the US is not as straightforward this year. President Donald Trump’s recent executive order has extended the holiday break for some Americans. Take a look at who is working today and who is not.
Why December 26 is a federal holiday this year
President Trump signed an executive order closing executive branch federal offices on Christmas Eve and on Dec. 26. This is to give many federal employees a five-day holiday stretch. However, this is not a statutory holiday approved by Congress, which means it applies only to executive branch agencies and not to the whole economy.
Are banks open a day after Christmas in the US?
Yes, banks are open today. The Federal Reserve is operating normally and processing transactions, which means the core banking system is active. As a result, most major commercial banks, including large national chains, are open for business, though branch-level hours may vary slightly.
Is the stock market open on December 26?
Yes, Wall Street is open. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq have returned to a full trading session today. Markets were closed on Christmas Day and ran on reduced hours on Christmas Eve, but trading has fully resumed on December 26. Most executive branch federal offices are closed. Employees of executive departments and agencies are officially off today due to the presidential order. This closure does not apply to Congress, state governments, or independent federal entities.
Is USPS delivering mail today?
The US Postal Service is fully operational. Because USPS is an independent establishment funded largely through postage and services, it is not bound by the executive order. Mail delivery and post office services have resumed as normal. Private courier services are back on the road.
Both FedEx and UPS have resumed standard pickup and delivery operations after pausing services on Christmas Day. Meanwhile, most private businesses are open, and retail stores are especially busy. December 26 is one of the biggest shopping days of the year, similar to Boxing Day sales in other countries. Major retailers, supermarkets, and pharmacies are operating on regular schedules and seeing heavy customer traffic.