Government operations and workforce

Executive Order 13453: Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Monday, Dec 24, 2007

President: George W. Bush

Excused most executive-branch employees on Christmas Eve 2007.

Status: Completed/expired. Is Executive Order 13453 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13453 is completed or expired. See Federal Register record.

What does Executive Order 13453 do?

Most executive agencies closed on December 24, 2007 while heads retained essential-security and public-need operations; holiday pay and leave rules applied. OPM issued a December 6, 2007 pay-and-leave memorandum explaining the excused day and its exceptions.

Administration position: Excused most executive-branch employees on Christmas Eve 2007.
SignedDecember 6, 2007
Earlier frameworkChristmas Day was a federal holiday; the President separately ordered a one-day closure for the preceding Monday.
Responsible bodyAgency heads and OPM
Follow-up evidenceDecember 6, 2007: OPM issued a December 6, 2007 pay-and-leave memorandum explaining the excused day and its exceptions.

Before and after

Before the order

Christmas Day was a federal holiday; the President separately ordered a one-day closure for the preceding Monday.

After the order

Most executive agencies closed on December 24, 2007 while heads retained essential-security and public-need operations; holiday pay and leave rules applied.

OPM issued a December 6, 2007 pay-and-leave memorandum explaining the excused day and its exceptions.

What did the signed order change?

Christmas Day was a federal holiday; the President separately ordered a one-day closure for the preceding Monday. Most executive agencies closed on December 24, 2007 while heads retained essential-security and public-need operations; holiday pay and leave rules applied.

What happened later?

OPM — Christmas Eve closure memorandum: OPM issued a December 6, 2007 pay-and-leave memorandum explaining the excused day and its exceptions.

What does that evidence establish?

This applied to covered federal executive employees, not to private employers or future Christmas Eves. The memorandum does not show each facility’s operating status. The signed order states the original requirements.

Who had to do what

Source: Signed Federal Register text.
Agency / officeActionTiming / position
Executive branch departments and agenciesClose and excuse employees from duty, except offices and employees required to remain on duty under the order. Apply the specified holiday pay and leave treatment. December 24, 2007.
Heads of executive branch departments and agenciesMay keep offices or installations open and require employees to report for national security, defense or other public needs.December 24, 2007.

What happened next

EO 13453 signed.

OPM issued a December 6, 2007 pay-and-leave memorandum explaining the excused day and its exceptions.