Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13343: Providing for the Closing of Government Departments and Agencies on Jun 11, 2004

President: George W. Bush

Closed federal executive agencies on June 11, 2004 in mourning for former President Ronald Reagan, with essential-service exceptions.

Status: Completed/expired. Is Executive Order 13343 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13343 is completed or expired. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13343 do?

EO 13343 ordered closure for the single day and treated it within specified pay and leave provisions, while allowing agency heads to keep essential operations open. OPM’s June 6, 2004 memorandum instructed agencies on pay and leave for the closure; its archived operating status records the federal closure on June 11. This is evidence of implementation of a one-day order, not a recurring holiday.

Administration position: The order marked respect for the former President through a single-day closure of federal agencies.
SignedJune 6, 2004
Earlier frameworkThe 2004 federal work calendar did not otherwise designate June 11 as a day of closure for this purpose.
Responsible bodyExecutive agencies and Office of Personnel Management
Later primary evidenceJune 11, 2004: OPM’s June 6, 2004 memorandum instructed agencies on pay and leave for the closure; its archived operating status records the federal closure on June 11. This is evidence of implementation of a one-day order, not a recurring holiday.

Before and after

Before the order

The 2004 federal work calendar did not otherwise designate June 11 as a day of closure for this purpose.

After the order

EO 13343 ordered closure for the single day and treated it within specified pay and leave provisions, while allowing agency heads to keep essential operations open.

OPM’s June 6, 2004 memorandum instructed agencies on pay and leave for the closure; its archived operating status records the federal closure on June 11. This is evidence of implementation of a one-day order, not a recurring holiday.

What did the signed order change?

The 2004 federal work calendar did not otherwise designate June 11 as a day of closure for this purpose. EO 13343 ordered closure for the single day and treated it within specified pay and leave provisions, while allowing agency heads to keep essential operations open.

What happened later?

OPM — archived federal operating status, June 11, 2004 documents this later development: OPM’s June 6, 2004 memorandum instructed agencies on pay and leave for the closure; its archived operating status records the federal closure on June 11. This is evidence of implementation of a one-day order, not a recurring holiday.

What does that evidence establish?

EO 13343 applied to June 11, 2004 and cited EO 11582 and 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b) for pay and leave. Agency heads could retain national-security, defense or other essential public operations. OPM specified treatment for most excused employees and exceptions; the order is not an annual federal holiday. The closure did not cover every office or establish a recurring day off. The signed order controls its original terms.

Who had to do what

Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Executive agencies and Office of Personnel ManagementClosed most federal offices and administered the day’s pay and leaveUnder the signed order and governing law

What happened next

EO 13343 signed.

OPM’s June 6, 2004 memorandum instructed agencies on pay and leave for the closure; its archived operating status records the federal closure on June 11. This is evidence of implementation of a one-day order, not a recurring holiday.