Executive Order 13713: Half-Day Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Thursday, December 24, 2015
President: Barack Obama
Closed most executive departments and agencies for the afternoon of Christmas Eve 2015.
Status: Completed/expired. Is Executive Order 13713 still in effect? No. Executive Order 13713 is completed or expired. See Federal Register record.
What does Executive Order 13713 do?
EO 13713 excused most federal executive-branch employees from the final half of their scheduled workday on Thursday December 24, 2015. Agency heads could retain staff for national security, defense or other public need. OPM’s implementing memo explained pay and leave treatment, including scheduled annual leave. This was a one-day instruction, not a recurring Christmas Eve holiday.
Before and after
Before the order
Christmas Eve afternoon was scheduled as ordinary duty for most federal employees.
After the order
Covered employees were excused while essential functions continued.
Who had to do what
| Agency / office | Action | Timing / position |
|---|---|---|
| Agency heads | Excuse covered employees | Completed |
| Essential personnel | Work when public need required | Completed |
| Payroll offices | Apply pay and leave provisions | Completed |
What happened next
EO 13713 was signed and OPM issued implementing guidance.
The half-day closure occurred.
Legal and source detail
How it works legally
The President used executive-branch administrative authority; agency heads retained discretion for essential work.
Sources by type
If a source is unavailable, first check the cited publisher or another official repository. The cited publisher remains the authority.
Primary and official sources
Orders, laws, court records and official implementation material.
- OPM — half-day closure memo (opens in a new tab) Official record
How we checked this
Last checked against the sources above on September 23, 2026. How we research →